Information processing system using nucleotide sequence-related information

ABSTRACT

A system for processing information for providing semantic information and/or information associated with the semantic information useful for each individual organism through effective utilization of differences in nucleotide sequence-related information among individual organisms is constructed. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequence comprises: (a) receiving request information for an object and/or service; (b) obtaining positional information in accordance with the request information from a memory having positional information representing a position in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein; and (c) obtaining nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the positional information obtained in (b) above, and obtaining semantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-related information and/or information associated with the semantic information.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/153,691,filed on May 24, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,912,650, which isincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information processing system thatprovides information through a communication network.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

Currently, genomic nucleotide sequences of various organisms includinghumans are being rapidly determined and information on genomicnucleotide sequences is being accumulated in various databases. Forexample, currently in progress is the construction of a system whichwill enable various research institutes and researchers to utilizeinformation on genomic nucleotide sequences accumulated in databasesthrough an information network such as the Internet.

At the same time, research for the purpose of genomic drug discovery andanalysis of genetic information and the like have been activelyconducted using nucleotide sequences contained in such information ongenomic nucleotide sequences, and differences in nucleotide sequencesamong individual organisms represented by the single nucleotidepolymorphism are attracting attention. In general, differences innucleotide sequences among individual organisms refer to a polymorphismdefined by existence of a predetermined nucleotide difference at afrequency of 1% or more in an individual species and a variation definedby a predetermined nucleotide difference of less than 1% in anindividual species. In particular, known polymorphisms are SNP (singlenucleotide polymorphism), in which there is one nucleotide differenceamong individual organisms; an insertion/deletion polymorphism, in whichone to several tens of nucleotides (sometimes several thousands ofnucleotides) have been deleted or inserted; VNTR (variable number oftandem repeat), in which the number of repetitions of a sequencecomprising two to several tens of nucleotides as one unit varies; and amicrosatellite polymorphism (a repetition sequence having about two tofour nucleotides).

Such polymorphisms sometimes affect, for example, differences in aminoacid sequences of proteins among individual organisms or differences inexpression efficiency concerning predetermined genes among individualorganisms. Such influences cause, for example, differences in themorbidity rate of predetermined diseases among individual organisms ordifferences in sensitiveness to predetermined medicaments amongindividual organisms.

A system, however, which provides semantic information useful for eachorganism among a plurality of individual organisms through effectiveutilization of differences in nucleotide sequence-related information,such as a polymorphism, is not yet constructed.

Under the above circumstances, the present invention is directed toconstruction of a system for processing information for providingsemantic information and/or information associated with the semanticinformation useful for each individual organism through effectiveutilization of differences in nucleotide sequence-related informationamong individual organisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, whereby the above objects have been accomplished,includes the following features:

1. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service;

(b) obtaining positional information in accordance with the requestinformation from a memory having positional information representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein; and

(c) obtaining, from among nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with positional information, nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the positional information obtained in step(b) above, and obtaining semantic information implied by the nucleotidesequence-related information and/or information associated with thesemantic information.

2. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), the semantic information and/or the informationassociated with the semantic information obtained in step (c) above istransmitted to an information processor which provided the requestinformation in step (a) above and/or a user of the semantic informationand/or the information associated with the semantic information.

3. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), at least step (d) transmitting the positionalinformation obtained in step (b) above is further comprised and, in step(c) above, from among nucleotide sequence-related information associatedwith positional information, nucleotide sequence-related informationcorresponding to the positional information transmitted in step (d)above is received, and semantic information implied by the receivednucleotide sequence-related information and/or information associatedwith the semantic information is then obtained.

4. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (3), in step (d) above, secondary positional informationcorresponding to the positional information obtained in step (b) aboveis set and the positional information obtained in step (b) above istransmitted in association with the secondary positional information,and in step (c) above, the nucleotide sequence-related information isreceived in association with the secondary positional information, andsemantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with the positional information through thesecondary positional information and/or information associated with thesemantic information is then obtained.

5. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (3), from a memory having memorized therein a plurality ofpieces of positional information, a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with each of the plurality ofpieces of positional information, and semantic information implied byeach of the plurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation, respectively, semantic information associated withnucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the positionalinformation transmitted in step (d) above is extracted to obtainsemantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation received in step (c) above.

6. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), in step (c) above, a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information corresponding to the positional informationobtained in step (b) above is obtained, and semantic information impliedby each of the plurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation and/or information associated with the semantic informationis obtained.

7. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), at least step (d) receiving nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information isfurther comprised and, in step (c) above, using the nucleotidesequence-related information received in step (d) above, nucleotidesequence-related information corresponding to the positional informationobtained in step (b) above is obtained.

8. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (7), from a memory having memorized therein a plurality ofpieces of positional information, a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with each of the plurality ofpieces of positional information, and semantic information implied byeach of the plurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation, respectively, semantic information associated withnucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the nucleotidesequence-related information received in step (d) above is extracted toobtain semantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation obtained in step (c) above.

9. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), whether transmission of the semantic informationand/or the information associated with the semantic information isapproved or not is determined.

10. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), in step (b) above, a plurality of pieces of positionalinformation in accordance with the request information is obtained, andin step (c) above, from among nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with positional information, nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to each of the plurality of pieces ofpositional information obtained in step (b) above is obtained, andsemantic information implied by a combination of the nucleotidesequence-related information and/or information associated with thesemantic information is obtained.

11. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1) comprising steps of: asking the provider of the requestinformation for consent to the provision of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation; and/or asking the provider of the request information forconsent regarding the content of semantic information and/or informationassociated with the semantic information.

12. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), the semantic information comprises at least one pieceof information selected from the group consisting of information onmedical examination items, information on a morbidity rate of a disease,information on the production of objects, information on the selectionof types of objects, and information on compatibility with otherindividual organisms.

13. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (1), additional information on the provider of the requestinformation is obtained and the additional information is associatedwith the semantic information and/or the information associated with thesemantic information obtained in step (c) above.

14. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service;

(b) obtaining positional information in accordance with the requestinformation from a memory having positional information representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein;

(c) transmitting at least the positional information obtained in step(b) above; and

(d) receiving nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding tothe positional information transmitted in step (c) above.

15. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (14) comprising steps of: asking the provider of therequest information for consent to the provision of nucleotidesequence-related information; and/or asking the provider of the requestinformation for consent regarding the content of semantic informationimplied by the nucleotide sequence-related information which is receivedin step (d) above and/or information associated with the semanticinformation.

16. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (14), in step (c) above, secondary positional informationcorresponding to the positional information obtained in step (b) aboveis set and the positional information obtained in step (b) above istransmitted in association with the secondary positional information,and in step (d) above, the nucleotide sequence-related information isreceived in association with the secondary positional information.

17. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) receiving nucleotide sequence-related information associated withpositional information, in accordance with request information for anobject and/or service, representing a position in a nucleotide sequence;and

(b) obtaining semantic information implied by the nucleotidesequence-related information received in step (a) above and/orinformation associated with the semantic information.

18. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (17), in step (b) above, from a memory having memorizedtherein a plurality of pieces of positional information, a plurality ofpieces of nucleotide sequence-related information associated with eachof the plurality of pieces of positional information, and semanticinformation implied by each of the plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information, respectively, semantic informationassociated with nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding tothe nucleotide sequence-related information which is received in step(a) above is extracted to obtain semantic information implied by thenucleotide sequence-related information.

19. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (17), the semantic information and/or the informationassociated with the semantic information obtained in step (b) above istransmitted to at least one of: an information processor which providedthe nucleotide sequence-related information in step (a) above; aninformation processor which provided the request information; and a userof the semantic information and/or the information associated with thesemantic information.

20. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (17), whether transmission of the semantic informationand/or the information associated with the semantic information isapproved or not is determined.

21. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (17), in step (a) above, nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with each of a plurality of pieces of positionalinformation in accordance with request information is received and, instep (b) above, semantic information implied by a combination of thenucleotide sequence-related information and/or information associatedwith the semantic information is obtained.

22. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) obtaining semantic information on a predetermined individualorganism that is implied by nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with positional information, in accordance with a request foran object and/or service, representing a position in a nucleotidesequence; and

(b) searching semantic information on an other individual organism(s)from a memory having semantic information implied by nucleotidesequence-related information on the other individual organism(s)memorized therein, and judging the compatibility between the semanticinformation on the predetermined individual organism and the semanticinformation on the other individual organism(s).

23. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (22), information on the judgment obtained in step (b)above is transmitted to the requester of the object and/or the serviceand/or a user of the information on the judgment.

24. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) obtaining semantic information that is implied by nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information, inaccordance with a request for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence and that interrelates information on apredetermined individual organism and information on an other individualorganism;

(b) extracting nucleotide sequence-related information associated withpositional information, with which semantic information containinginformation on a predetermined individual organism which is recognizedas in conformity with information on an other individual organismcontained in the semantic information obtained in step (a) above isassociated; and

(c) from a memory having memorized therein information fordiscriminating an individual organism in association with nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information,extracting information for discriminating an individual organismassociated with the nucleotide sequence-related information extracted instep (b) above.

25. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (24), the result of extraction obtained in step (c) aboveis transmitted to the requester of the object and/or the service and/ora user of the result of extraction.

26. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) receiving positional information representing a position in anucleotide sequence in accordance with a request for an object and/orservice;

(b) obtaining nucleotide sequence-related information associated withpositional information corresponding to the positional informationreceived in step (a) above; and

(c) transmitting the nucleotide sequence-related information obtained instep (b) above.

27. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (26), in step (b) above, nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation is obtained from a recording medium.

28. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (26), in step (c) above, the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation is transmitted to an information processor which providedthe positional information.

29. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (26), in step (a) above, the positional information as wellas secondary positional information which is set according to thepositional information are received, and in step (c) above, thenucleotide sequence-related information obtained in step (b) above istransmitted in association with the secondary positional information.

30. The method for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (26) comprising, prior to step (a) above, step (d)transmitting the request information for the object and/or the serviceand, after step (c) above, step (e) receiving semantic informationimplied by the nucleotide sequence-related information transmitted instep (c) above and/or information associated with the semanticinformation.

31. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) receiving positional information, in accordance with a request foran object and/or service, representing a position in a nucleotidesequence; a plurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with the positional information; and semanticinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information,which is associated with each of the plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information respectively; and

(b) from among a plurality of combinations of the positional informationand the nucleotide sequence-related information received in step (a)above, selecting a combination corresponding to a combination ofpositional information and nucleotide sequence-related informationpossessed by the requester, and extracting semantic information and/orinformation associated with the semantic information, which isassociated with nucleotide sequence-related information contained in theselected combination.

32. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) transmitting positional information representing a position in anucleotide sequence, and nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with the positional information;

(b) transmitting request information for an object and/or service; and

(c) receiving semantic information implied by nucleotidesequence-related information corresponding to positional information inaccordance with the request information and/or information associatedwith the semantic information.

33. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service through atransmitter/receiver;

(b) from a memory having positional information representing a positionin a nucleotide sequence memorized therein, obtaining through acontroller positional information in accordance with the requestinformation; and

(c) from among nucleotide sequence-related information associated withpositional information, obtaining through a controller nucleotidesequence-related information corresponding to the positional informationobtained in process (b) above, and obtaining through a controllersemantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information.

34. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (33), the semantic information and/or the informationassociated with the semantic information obtained in process (c) aboveis transmitted through a transmitter/receiver to an informationprocessor which provided the request information in process (a) aboveand/or a user of the semantic information and/or the informationassociated with the semantic information.

35. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (33), at least process (d) transmitting, through atransmitter/receiver, the positional information obtained in process (b)above is further comprised, and in process (c) above, from amongnucleotide sequence-related information associated with positionalinformation, nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding tothe positional information transmitted in process (d) above is received,and semantic information implied by the received nucleotidesequence-related information and/or information associated with thesemantic information is then obtained.

36. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (35), in process (d) above, secondary positionalinformation corresponding to the positional information obtained inprocess (b) above is set and the positional information obtained inprocess (b) above is transmitted in association with the secondarypositional information, and in process (c) above, the nucleotidesequence-related information is received in association with thesecondary positional information, and semantic information implied bythe nucleotide sequence-related information associated with thepositional information through the secondary positional informationand/or information associated with the semantic information is thenobtained.

37. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (35), from a memory having memorized therein a plurality ofpieces of positional information, a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with each of the plurality ofpieces of positional information, and semantic information implied byeach of the plurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation, respectively, semantic information associated withnucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the positionalinformation transmitted in process (d) above is extracted to obtainsemantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation received in process (c) above.

38. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (33), in process (c) above, a plurality of pieces ofnucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the positionalinformation obtained in process (b) above is obtained, and semanticinformation implied by each of the plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information and/or information associated with thesemantic information is obtained.

39. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (33), at least process (d) receiving through atransmitter/receiver nucleotide sequence-related information associatedwith positional information is further comprised, and in process (c)above, using the nucleotide sequence-related information received inprocess (d) above, nucleotide sequence-related information correspondingto the positional information obtained in process (b) above is obtained.

40. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (39), from a memory having memorized therein a plurality ofpieces of positional information, a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with each of the plurality ofpieces of positional information, and semantic information implied byeach of the plurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation, respectively, semantic information associated withnucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the nucleotidesequence-related information received in process (d) above is extractedto obtain semantic information implied by the nucleotidesequence-related information obtained in process (c) above.

41. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (33), whether transmission of the semantic informationand/or the information associated with the semantic information isapproved or not is determined through a controller.

42. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (33), in process (b) above, a plurality of pieces ofpositional information in accordance with the request information isobtained and, in process (c) above, from among nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information,nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to each of theplurality of pieces of positional information obtained in process (b)above is obtained, and semantic information implied by a combination ofthe nucleotide sequence-related information and/or informationassociated with the semantic information is obtained.

43. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service through atransmitter/receiver;

(b) obtaining through a controller positional information in accordancewith the request information from a memory having positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein;

(c) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver, at least, thepositional information obtained in process (b) above; and

(d) receiving through a transmitter/receiver nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the positional information transmitted inprocess (c) above.

44. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (43), in process (c) above, secondary positionalinformation corresponding to the positional information obtained inprocess (b) above is set and the positional information obtained inprocess (b) above is transmitted in association with the secondarypositional information, and in process (d) above, the nucleotidesequence-related information is received in association with thesecondary positional information.

45. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) receiving through a transmitter/receiver nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information, in accordance withrequest information for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence; and

(b) obtaining through a controller semantic information implied by thenucleotide sequence-related information received in process (a) aboveand/or information associated with the semantic information.

46. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (45), in process (b) above, from a memory having memorizedtherein a plurality of pieces of positional information, a plurality ofpieces of nucleotide sequence-related information associated with eachof the plurality of pieces of positional information, and semanticinformation implied by each of the plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information, respectively, semantic informationassociated with nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding tothe nucleotide sequence-related information which is received in step(a) above is extracted to obtain semantic information implied by thenucleotide sequence-related information.

47. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (45), the semantic information and/or the informationassociated with the semantic information obtained in process (b) aboveis transmitted through a transmitter/receiver to at least one of: aninformation processor which provided the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation in process (a) above; an information processor whichprovided the request information; and a user of the semantic informationand/or the information associated with the semantic information.

48. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (45), whether transmission of the semantic informationand/or the information associated with the semantic information isapproved or not is determined through a controller.

49. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (45), in process (a) above, nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with each of a plurality of pieces of positionalinformation in accordance with request information is received and, inprocess (b) above, semantic information implied by a combination of thenucleotide sequence-related information and/or information associatedwith the semantic information is obtained.

50. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) obtaining through a controller semantic information on apredetermined individual organism that is implied by nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information, inaccordance with a request for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence; and

(b) searching semantic information on an other individual organism(s)from a memory having semantic information implied by nucleotidesequence-related information on the other individual organism(s)memorized therein, and judging the compatibility between the semanticinformation on the predetermined individual organism and the semanticinformation on the other individual organism(s) through a controller.

51. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (50), information on the judgment obtained in process (b)above is transmitted through a transmitter/receiver to the requester ofthe object and/or the service and/or a user of the information on thejudgment.

52. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) obtaining through a controller semantic information that is impliedby nucleotide sequence-related information associated with positionalinformation, in accordance with a request for an object and/or service,representing a position in a nucleotide sequence, and that interrelatesinformation on a predetermined individual organism and information on another individual organism;

(b) extracting through a controller nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information, with which semanticinformation containing information on a predetermined individualorganism which is recognized as in conformity with information on another individual organism contained in the semantic information obtainedin process (a) above is associated; and

(c) from a memory having memorized therein information fordiscriminating an individual organism in association with nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional informationextracting through a controller information for discriminating anindividual organism associated with the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation extracted in process (b) above.

53. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (52), the result of extraction obtained in process (c)above is transmitted to the requester of the object and/or the serviceand/or a user of the result of extraction through atransmitter/receiver.

54. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) receiving through a transmitter/receiver positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence in accordance with arequest for an object and/or service;

(b) obtaining through a controller nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information corresponding to thepositional information received in process (a) above; and

(c) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver the nucleotidesequence-related information obtained in process (b) above.

55. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (54), in process (b) above, nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation is obtained from a recording medium.

56. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (54), in process (c) above, the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation is transmitted to an information processor which providedthe positional information.

57. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (54), in process (a) above, the positional information aswell as secondary positional information which is set according to thepositional information are received and, in process (c) above, thenucleotide sequence-related information obtained in process (b) above istransmitted in association with the secondary positional information.

58. The program for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (54) comprising, prior to process (a) above, process (d)transmitting through a transmitter/receiver the request information forthe object and/or the service and, after process (c) above, process (e)receiving semantic information implied by the nucleotidesequence-related information transmitted in process (c) above and/orinformation associated with the semantic information through atransmitter/receiver.

59. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) receiving through a transmitter/receiver positional information, inaccordance with a request for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence; a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with the positional information;and semantic information and/or information associated with the semanticinformation, which is associated with each of the plurality of pieces ofnucleotide sequence-related information respectively; and

(b) from among a plurality of combinations of the positional informationand the nucleotide sequence-related information received in process (a)above, selecting a combination corresponding to a combination ofpositional information and nucleotide sequence-related informationpossessed by the requester, and extracting through a controller semanticinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information,which is associated with nucleotide sequence-related informationcontained in the selected combination.

60. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence, and nucleotidesequence-related information associated with the positional information;

(b) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver request information foran object and/or service; and

(c) receiving through a transmitter/receiver semantic informationimplied by nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding topositional information in accordance with the request information and/orinformation associated with the semantic information.

61. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a transmitter/receiver that receives request information for an objectand/or service; and

a controller that obtains: positional information in accordance with therequest information from a memory having positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein;nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the obtainedpositional information among nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with positional information; and semantic information impliedby the nucleotide sequence-related information and/or informationassociated with the semantic information.

62. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (61), the transmitter/receiver transmits the semanticinformation and/or the information associated with the semanticinformation to an information processor which provided the requestinformation and/or a user of the semantic information and/or theinformation associated with the semantic information.

63. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (61), the transmitter/receiver at least transmits theobtained positional information, and the controller, followed byreceiving nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to thetransmitted positional information from among nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information,obtains semantic information implied by the received nucleotidesequence-related information and/or information associated with thesemantic information.

64. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (63), the controller sets secondary positional informationcorresponding to the obtained positional information, thetransmitter/receiver transmits the obtained positional information inassociation with the secondary positional information, and thecontroller, followed by receiving the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation in association with the secondary positional information,obtains semantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with the positional information through thesecondary positional information and/or information associated with thesemantic information.

65. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (63), the controller extracts, from a memory havingmemorized therein a plurality of pieces of positional information, aplurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with each of the plurality of pieces of positionalinformation, and semantic information implied by each of the pluralityof pieces of nucleotide sequence-related information, respectively,semantic information associated with nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the positional information transmittedthrough the transmitter/receiver, to obtain semantic information impliedby the received nucleotide sequence-related information.

66. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (61), the controller obtains a plurality of pieces ofnucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the obtainedpositional information, and semantic information implied by each of theplurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-related information and/orinformation associated with the semantic information.

67. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (61), the transmitter/receiver at least receives nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional information, andthe controller obtains nucleotide sequence-related informationcorresponding to the obtained positional information using the receivednucleotide sequence-related information.

68. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (67), the controller extracts, from a memory havingmemorized therein a plurality of pieces of positional information, aplurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with each of the plurality of pieces of positionalinformation, and semantic information implied by each of the pluralityof pieces of nucleotide sequence-related information, respectively,semantic information associated with nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the nucleotide sequence-related informationreceived through the transmitter/receiver, to obtain semanticinformation implied by the obtained nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation.

69. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (61), the controller determines whether transmission of thesemantic information and/or the information associated with the semanticinformation is approved or not.

70. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (61), the controller obtains: a plurality of pieces ofpositional information in accordance with the request information;nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to each of theplurality of pieces of the obtained positional information from amongnucleotide sequence-related information associated with positionalinformation; and semantic information implied by a combination of thenucleotide sequence-related information and/or information associatedwith the semantic information.

71. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a controller that obtains positional information in accordance withrequest information for an object and/or service from a memory havingpositional information representing a position in a nucleotide sequencememorized therein; and

a transmitter/receiver that receives the request information, at leasttransmits the positional information obtained through the controller,and receives nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding tothe transmitted positional information.

72. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (71), the controller sets secondary positional informationcorresponding to the obtained positional information, and thetransmitter/receiver transmits the obtained positional information inassociation with the secondary positional information, and receives thenucleotide sequence-related information in association with thesecondary positional information.

73. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a transmitter/receiver that receives nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information, in accordance withrequest information for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence; and

a controller that obtains semantic information implied by the nucleotidesequence-related information received through the transmitter/receiverand/or information associated with the semantic information.

74. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (73), the controller extracts, from a memory havingmemorized therein a plurality of pieces of positional information, aplurality of pieces of nucleotide sequence-related informationassociated with each of the plurality of pieces of positionalinformation, and semantic information implied by each of the pluralityof pieces of nucleotide sequence-related information, respectively,semantic information associated with nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the nucleotide sequence-related informationwhich is received through the transmitter/receiver, to obtain semanticinformation implied by the nucleotide sequence-related information.

75. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (73), the transmitter/receiver transmits the semanticinformation and/or the information associated with the semanticinformation obtained through the controller to at least one of: aninformation processor which provided the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation; an information processor which provided the requestinformation; and a user of the semantic information and/or theinformation associated with the semantic information.

76. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (73), the controller determines whether transmission of thesemantic information and/or the information associated with the semanticinformation is approved or not.

77. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (73), the transmitter/receiver receives nucleotidesequence-related information associated with each of a plurality ofpieces of positional information in accordance with request information,and the controller obtains semantic information implied by a combinationof the nucleotide sequence-related information and/or informationassociated with the semantic information.

78. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a controller that obtains semantic information on a predeterminedindividual organism that is implied by nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information, in accordance with arequest for an object and/or service, representing a position in anucleotide sequence, searches semantic information on an otherindividual organism(s) from a memory having semantic information impliedby nucleotide sequence-related information on the other individualorganism(s) memorized therein, and judges the compatibility between thesemantic information on the predetermined individual organism and thesemantic information on the other individual organism(s).

79. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (78) comprising a transmitter/receiver that transmitsinformation on the judgment obtained through the controller to therequester of the object and/or the service and/or a user of theinformation on the judgment.

80. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a controller that obtains semantic information that is implied bynucleotide sequence-related information associated with positionalinformation, in accordance with a request for an object and/or service,representing a position in a nucleotide sequence and that interrelatesinformation on a predetermined individual organism and information on another individual organism, extracts nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information, with which semanticinformation containing information on a predetermined individualorganism which is recognized as in conformity with information on another individual organism contained in the obtained semantic informationis associated, and extracts from a memory having information fordiscriminating an individual organism in association with nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional informationmemorized therein, information for discriminating an individual organismassociated with the extracted nucleotide sequence-related information.

81. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (80) comprising a transmitter/receiver that transmits theresult of extraction obtained through the controller to the requester ofthe object and/or the service and/or a user of the result of extraction.

82. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a controller that controls reception of positional information, inaccordance with a request for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence, obtainment of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with positional informationcorresponding to the received positional information, and transmissionof the obtained nucleotide sequence-related information.

83. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (82), the controller obtains nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation from a recording medium.

84. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (82) comprising a transmitter/receiver that transmits thenucleotide sequence-related information.

85. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (82), the controller controls reception of the positionalinformation as well as secondary positional information which is setaccording to the positional information and transmission of the obtainednucleotide sequence-related information associated with the secondarypositional information.

86. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequenceaccording to (82), the controller controls transmission of the requestinformation for the object and/or the service and reception of semanticinformation implied by the transmitted nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information.

87. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a transmitter/receiver that receives positional information, inaccordance with a request for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence; a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with the positional information;and semantic information and/or information associated with the semanticinformation, which is associated with each of the plurality of pieces ofnucleotide sequence-related information respectively; and

-   -   a controller that selects, from among a plurality of        combinations of the positional information and the nucleotide        sequence-related information which were received through the        transmitter/receiver, a combination corresponding to a        combination of positional information and nucleotide        sequence-related information possessed by the requester, and        extracts semantic information and/or information associated with        the semantic information, which is associated with nucleotide        sequence-related information contained in the selected        combination.

88. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a transmitter/receiver that transmits positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence and nucleotidesequence-related information associated with the positional information,transmits request information for an object and/or service, and receivessemantic information implied by nucleotide sequence-related informationcorresponding to positional information in accordance with the requestinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information.

89. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service through atransmitter/receiver;

(b) from a memory having positional information representing a positionin a nucleotide sequence memorized therein, obtaining through acontroller positional information in accordance with the requestinformation; and

(c) from among nucleotide sequence-related information associated withpositional information, obtaining through a controller nucleotidesequence-related information corresponding to the positional informationobtained in process (b) above, and obtaining through a controllersemantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information.

90. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service through atransmitter/receiver;

(b) obtaining through a controller positional information in accordancewith the request information from a memory having positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein;

(c) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver, at least, thepositional information obtained in process (b) above; and

(d) receiving through a transmitter/receiver nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the positional information transmitted inprocess (c) above.

91. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) receiving through a transmitter/receiver nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence, in accordance with requestinformation for an object and/or service; and

(b) obtaining through a controller semantic information implied by thenucleotide sequence-related information received in process (a) aboveand/or information associated with the semantic information.

92. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) receiving through a transmitter/receiver positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence in accordance with arequest for an object and/or service;

(b) obtaining through a controller nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information corresponding to thepositional information received in process (a) above; and

(c) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver the nucleotidesequence-related information obtained in process,(b) above.

93. The recording medium having a program for processing information ona nucleotide sequence recorded thereon according to (92) comprising,prior to process (a) above, process (d) transmitting through atransmitter/receiver the request information for the object and/or theservice and, after process (c) above, process (e) receiving semanticinformation implied by the nucleotide sequence-related informationtransmitted in process (c) above and/or information associated with thesemantic information through a transmitter/receiver.

94. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) receiving through a transmitter/receiver positional information, inaccordance with a request for an object and/or service, representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence; a plurality of pieces of nucleotidesequence-related information associated with the positional information;and semantic information and/or information associated with the semanticinformation, which is associated with each of the plurality of pieces ofnucleotide sequence-related information respectively; and

(b) from among a plurality of combinations of the positional informationand the nucleotide sequence-related information received in process (a)above, selecting a combination corresponding to a combination ofpositional information and nucleotide sequence-related informationpossessed by the requester, and extracting through a controller semanticinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information,which is associated with nucleotide sequence-related informationcontained in the selected combination.

95. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence, and nucleotidesequence-related information associated with the positional information;

(b) transmitting through a transmitter/receiver request information foran object and/or service; and

(c) receiving through a transmitter/receiver semantic informationimplied by nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding topositional information in accordance with the request information and/orinformation associated with the semantic information.

96. A system for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichcomprises:

an information processor for a requester which transmits requestinformation for an object and/or service, and which is capable ofobtaining nucleotide sequence-related information; and

an information processor for a provider which provides semanticinformation implied by nucleotide sequence-related information and/orinformation associated with the semantic information, and which iscapable of obtaining positional information representing a position in anucleotide sequence and semantic information implied by nucleotidesequence-related information corresponding to the positional informationand/or information associated with the semantic information, and

obtaining semantic information implied by nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation associated with positional information in accordance withthe request information from the information processor for a requesterand/or information associated with the semantic information.

97. A method for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising steps of:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service;

(b) obtaining positional information in accordance with the requestinformation from a memory having positional information representing aposition in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein; and

(c) obtaining nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding tothe positional information obtained in step (b) above, and obtainingsemantic information implied by the nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation and/or information associated with the semantic information.

98. A program for processing information on a nucleotide sequence whichallows a computer to execute processes including:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service through atransmitter/receiver;

(b) from a memory having positional information representing a positionin a nucleotide sequence memorized therein, obtaining through acontroller positional information in accordance with the requestinformation; and

(c) obtaining through a controller nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the positional information obtained inprocess (b) above, and obtaining through a controller semanticinformation implied by the nucleotide sequence-related informationand/or information associated with the semantic information.

99. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequencecomprising:

a transmitter/receiver that receives request information for an objectand/or service; and

a controller that obtains: positional information in accordance with therequest information from a memory having positional informationrepresenting a position in a nucleotide sequence memorized therein;nucleotide sequence-related information corresponding to the obtainedpositional information; and semantic information implied by thenucleotide sequence-related information and/or information associatedwith the semantic information.

100. A recording medium having a program for processing information on anucleotide sequence recorded thereon which allows a computer to executeprocesses including:

(a) receiving request information for an object and/or service through atransmitter/receiver;

(b) from a memory having positional information representing a positionin a nucleotide sequence memorized therein, obtaining through acontroller positional information in accordance with the requestinformation; and

(c) obtaining through a controller nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation corresponding to the positional information obtained inprocess (b) above, and obtaining through a controller semanticinformation implied by the nucleotide sequence-related informationand/or information associated with the semantic information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a construction of a system forprocessing information to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a construction of a shared computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of data thatis recorded in a main database (“database” is hereinafter abbreviated to“DB”).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a construction of a personalcomputer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded on a genome-related information recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing processing in a shared computer and apersonal computer in a system for providing a morbidity rate of apredetermined disease.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart, which is a continuation of FIG. 6, showingprocessing in a shared computer and a personal computer in a system forproviding a morbidity rate of a predetermined disease.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing other processing in a shared computer anda personal computer in a system for providing a morbidity rate of apredetermined disease.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing further processing in a shared computerand a personal computer in a system for providing a morbidity rate of apredetermined disease.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded in a main DB that is utilized in a system for providing amedicament that is appropriate for the diathesis.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing processing in a shared computer and apersonal computer in a system for providing a medicament that isappropriate for the diathesis.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart, which is a continuation of FIG. 11, showingprocessing in a shared computer and a personal computer in a system forproviding a medicament that is appropriate for the diathesis.

FIG. 13 shows a screen image indicated as an example of a portal screenfor a tailor-made non-prescription pharmaceuticals.

FIG. 14 shows a screen image indicated as an example of a medicamentcategory menu screen.

FIG. 15 shows a screen image shown as an example of an input screen forindividual IC confirmation.

FIG. 16 shows a screen image indicated as an example of a confirmationscreen.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing construction of data stored in memorysection A in a system for providing a medicament that is appropriate forthe diathesis.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing construction of data stored in memorysection B in a system for providing a medicament that is appropriate forthe diathesis.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing construction of information that istransmitted to a provider of a medicament in a system for providing amedicament that is appropriate for the diathesis.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded in a main DB used in a system for providing medical examinationitems depending on diathesis.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded in a link DB used in a system for providing medical examinationitems depending on the diathesis.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded on a genome-related information recording medium used in asystem for providing medical examination items depending on thediathesis.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing processing in a shared computer and apersonal computer in a system for providing medical examination itemsdepending on the diathesis.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart, which is a continuation of FIG. 23, showingprocessing in a shared computer and a personal computer in a system forproviding medical examination items depending on the diathesis.

FIG. 25 shows a screen image indicated as an example of a portal screenfor medical examination.

FIG. 26 shows a screen image indicated as an example of a medicalexamination course menu screen.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded in a medical examination table used in a system for providingmedical examination items depending on the diathesis.

FIG. 28 shows a screen image indicated as an example of an input screenfor individual IC confirmation.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing construction of data stored in memorysection B in a system for providing medical examination items dependingon the diathesis.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing construction of data stored in memorysection A in a system for providing medical examination items dependingon the diathesis.

FIG. 31 shows a screen image representing an example of an output formatin a system for providing medical examination items depending on thediathesis.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded in a main DB used in a system for providing information onother individual organisms having properties compatible with a “givenproperty” of the requestor.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing construction of an embodiment of datarecorded on a genome-related information recording medium used in asystem for providing information on other individual organisms havingproperties compatible with a “given property” of the requestor.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing processing in a shared computer and apersonal computer in a system for donor registration for registering anindividual's own polymorphism pattern.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing construction of a donor DB constructed in asystem for donor registration for registering an individual's ownpolymorphism pattern.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing processing in a shared computer and apersonal computer in a system for providing information on otherindividual organisms having properties compatible with a “givenproperty” of the requestor.

FIG. 37 is a flow chart, which is a continuation of FIG. 36, showingprocessing in a shared computer and a personal computer in a system forproviding information on other individual organisms having propertiescompatible with a “given property” of the requestor.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: communication network

2: shared computer

3: personal computer

EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to thedrawings.

1. First Embodiment

First, a system for processing information which provides the morbidityrate of predetermined diseases to a user is described as a firstembodiment to which the present invention has been applied. The presentembodiment is directed to explanation of a system for providing themorbidity rate in accordance with the request information requested by auser and, thus, is explained as a simple model for the convenience ofexplanation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system for processing information comprises acommunication network 1, such as the Internet, a shared computer 2connected to communication network 1, and a plurality of personalcomputers 3 connected to communication network 1, and enables datacommunication between shared computer 2 and personal computers 3 throughcommunication network 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, shared computer 2 is constituted by a CPU 4 thattotally controls the operation of the shared computer 2; an input device5, such as a keyboard and a mouse, with which information, instructionsfor executing a program and the like can be input; a display device 6such as a display apparatus; a storage 7 in which temporary information,unrewritable information and the like are recorded; a database 8 forstoring various data; a recorder 9 for writing predetermined informationin storage 7 and database 8; and a transmitter/receiver 17 fortransmission and reception of information to and from personal computers3 through communication network 1.

Storage 7 in shared computer 2 is constituted by a memory section A10and a memory section B11 which respectively record different types ofinformation; a screen memory 12 having recorded therein screen datadisplayed, for example, on personal computer 3 or display device 6; anda processing program 13 for operating the system. Shared computer 2 mayhave screen memory 12, processing program 13 and the like in an externalrecording apparatus (not shown) connected to shared computer 2 throughcommunication network 1 instead of containing those in storage 7 insideshared computer 2.

Database 8 (described as “memory” in Claim) in shared computer 2 isconstituted by a main DB 14 in which a polymorphism address, apolymorphism pattern, and semantic information are recorded; a storageDB-A15 for saving information recorded in memory section AIO; and astorage DB-B16 for saving information recorded in memory section B11.

As shown in FIG. 3, polymorphism addresses, a plurality of possiblepolymorphism patterns in the polymorphism address respectively, andsemantic information implied by each of the plurality of polymorphismpatterns respectively are stored in association with one another in mainDB 14. Main DB 14 may also have recorded therein semantic informationimplied by a combination of polymorphism patterns in a plurality ofpolymorphism addresses (such as haplotype).

The “polymorphism address (positional information)” refers to, at least,a position in a nucleotide sequence where a polymorphism is present. Ingeneral, the term “polymorphism” includes, for example, a so-called SNP(single nucleotide polymorphism), RFLP (restriction fragment length ofpolymorphism), VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat), andmicrosatellite. However, the term “polymorphism” used herein is notlimited to these and also includes a variation in nucleotides andnucleotide sequences existing only at a frequency of less than 1% in anindividual species. Therefore, “polymorphism address” also includes aposition in a nucleotide sequence which indicates a variation of anucleotide and nucleotide sequences existing only at a frequency of lessthan 1% in an individual species. Specifically, the “polymorphismaddress” indicates a position representing a polymorphism or the like bya combination of numerical values, letters, symbols, and the like. Thepolymorphism address is not particularly limited, for example, may berepresented by a combination of a chromosome number, a symbol indicatinga gene having a polymorphism therein, and a numerical value indicating aposition of a polymorphism in the gene. Alternatively, it may be acombination of a symbol indicating a gene having polymorphism thereinand a numerical value indicating a position of polymorphism in the gene.

Further, a “polymorphism address” may be a notation peculiar to apolymorphism imparted to each polymorphism. When the notation peculiarto a polymorphism is used as a polymorphism address, the polymorphismaddress does not directly indicate the position in the nucleotidesequence, instead, the position can be indirectly found by the notationpeculiar to the polymorphism. Therefore, the “polymorphism address”includes the notation peculiar to the polymorphism.

A “polymorphism pattern (nucleotide sequence-related information)” isinformation on nucleotide sequences which differ among individualorganisms, and contains, at least, a pattern of nucleotides ornucleotide sequences in a polymorphism. In addition, the “polymorphismpattern” includes a pattern of nucleotide and nucleotide sequencesexisting only at a frequency of less than 1% in an individual speciesand is not limited to a polymorphism. For example, in a polymorphismaddress known to have A or G, the “polymorphism pattern” is representedeither by “A” or “G”.

The “polymorphism pattern” may represent a heterozygote or homozygote ina homologous chromosome. For example, the “polymorphism pattern” can berepresented by “AA”, “GG”, or “AG” in the polymorphism address known tohave A or G.

Further, the “polymorphism pattern” may indirectly represent a possiblepattern in the predetermined polymorphism address instead of directrepresentation of patterns. For example, in the polymorphism addressknown to have A or G the “polymorphism pattern” may be represented by“allele 1” when the polymorphism address has “A” or “allele 2” when thepolymorphism address has “G”. As described above, when the “polymorphismpattern” can be expressed as “AA”, “GG”, or “AG”, the “polymorphismpattern” may be represented by “α” when expressed as “AA”, it may berepresented by “β” when expressed as “GG”, and it may be represented by“γ” when expressed as “AG”.

When the polymorphism is the microsateltite type the “polymorphismpattern” may be represented, for example, by numerical values indicating“the number of repetitions” and when the polymorphism is theinsertion/deletion type the “polymorphism pattern” may be represented,for example, by symbols indicating “presence/absence”.

The term “semantic information” used herein refers to informationassociated with the “polymorphism pattern,” for example, informationincluding responsiveness to medicaments, side-effect caused bymedicaments, a risk against diseases and disorders, diatheses andproperties, interaction among proteins, and various phenotypes caused bydifferences in polymorphism patterns. “Semantic information” is a typeof information which is corrected and increases in the numbers of typesaccompanied by progress in research on genome and genetics, and constantupdating is preferred. In other words, “semantic information” becomesmore accurate through increases and decreases in the amount ofinformation accumulated by updating a database/using the results ofresearch on genome and genetics.

Information that is further induced from “semantic information” is“information associated with the semantic information” although it isnot directly associated with the “polymorphism pattern.” When “semanticinformation” is a risk against diseases, when the relevant risk exceedsa given standard, for example, specific “medical examination items” arederived. These specific “medical examination items” are “informationassociated with the semantic information.”

In the present embodiment, semantic information is recorded in main DB14 as “annotative information on the polymorphism pattern” associatedwith at least the predetermined “polymorphism address” and “polymorphismpattern” as shown in FIG. 3. Also, semantic information is associatedwith, for example, “polymorphism classification,” “classification (nameof diseases)” and the like corresponding to the predetermined“polymorphism address.” Consequently, when a predetermined “polymorphismaddress” is a predetermined “polymorphism pattern,” types of diseasesand annotative information (semantic information) on the morbidity ratesof diseases can be obtained. For example, semantic information can beassociated with a combination of respective polymorphism patternscorresponding to a plurality of polymorphism addresses (such ashaplotype). In other words, each combination of polymorphism patterns ina plurality of polymorphism addresses can be respectively associatedwith annotative information (semantic information) representingdifferent morbidity rates for predetermined diseases. In this case, whena plurality of polymorphism addresses are a combination of predeterminedpolymorphism patterns, annotative information (semantic information)indicating the morbidity rate of a predetermined disease can beobtained.

Semantic information can be further associated with a “level ofdisclosure” which is set in accordance with a predetermined standard.For example, a standard in setting a “level of disclosure” can bedetermined by taking into consideration unpredictable disbenefits andthe like for individuals that would be caused by disclosure of semanticinformation, i.e., the morbidity rate of “classification (name ofdisease)”. In particular, in shared computer 2, a “level of disclosure”can be set such that semantic information, the disclosure of which isinappropriate from the view point of, for example, law, regulations, thebehavioral norms of an organization having the shared computer 2 or acontract with the user, is not disclosed. In this case, with thissystem, annotative information representing a morbidity rate associatedwith a “level of disclosure” at which disclosure is not possible is notdisclosed to users. This can prevent the provision of semanticinformation which could result in unpredictable disbenefit for users orthe disclosure of semantic information to parties other than thecontract party.

The system may disclose semantic information having a predetermined“level of disclosure” associated therewith to the user through approvalby the user of disclosure of semantic information having a predetermined“level of disclosure” associated therewith through, for example,informed consent.

The “level of disclosure” can be set as a plurality of levels of threeor more, for example, “1, 2, 3 . . . ” or “a, b, c . . . ”. In thiscase, the level can be set on the shared computer 2 side according tothe type of user, such as the user's age, the user's qualification, andwhether or not a contract exists with the user. The user can select thelevel of disclosure such that only annotative information is providedwhich represents the morbidity rate associated with the level ofdisclosure that is above (or below) the predetermined level ofdisclosure determined in accordance with the informed consent or thelike.

In database 8, for example, data such as nucleotide sequence-relatedinformation that is the genetic information of the individual requesterutilizing the system can be recorded in storage DB-B16. In storageDB-A15, for example, data such as information distinguishing therequester from others utilizing the system can be recorded. In this way,the separate recording of the genetic information of individuals and theinformation for specifying individuals in storage DB-A15 and storageDB-B16, respectively, makes it difficult to associate a user's geneticinformation with data that specifies the user.

Shared computer 2 is not limited to one having database 8 therein, andit may have an external database (not shown) connected to sharedcomputer 2 through communication network 1. Shared computer 2 may have aplurality of databases 8 therein or may have an internal database 8 andan external database connected to shared computer 2 throughcommunication network 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, personal computer 3 is constituted by CPU 20 thattotally controls operation of personal computer 3, input device 21 suchas a keyboard and a mouse with which information and instructions forexecuting a program are input, display device 22 such as a displayapparatus, storage 23 having temporary information, rewritableinformation and the like recorded therein, reading apparatus 25 forreading data from genome-related information recording medium 24, andtransmitter/receiver 29 for transmitting and receiving information toand from shared computer 2 through communication network 1. Personalcomputer 3 is not limited to a commonly used computer. For example, itmay be any form of cellular phone, personal digital assistance, or othermobile communication tool.

Storage 23 in personal computer 3 has a memory section 26 for recordinginformation provided from genome-related information recording medium 24and the like, and is recorded a processing program 27 for operating thesystem for processing information.

Genome-related information recording medium 24 has genome-relatedinformation 28 of an individual recorded thereon. Genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 includes, for example, a magneticrecording medium such as a magnetic disk or a magnetic card, an opticalrecording medium employing such as a magneto-optic recording system or aphase-change recording system, and a semiconductor memory. Thisgenome-related information recording medium 24 may be in any form suchas, for example, card, disk, stick, tape, or drum. Further, thisgenome-related information recording medium 24 may comprisegenome-related information 28 of a single individual (an individualorganism) recorded thereon. Alternatively, it may comprise a pluralityof pieces of genome-related information 28 on a plurality of individuals(individual organisms) recorded thereon.

Genome-related information 28 contained in genome-related informationrecording medium 24 refers to, at least, a “polymorphism address” and a“polymorphism pattern” in the predetermined polymorphism addressobtained as a result of analysis of an individual's (individualorganism's) nucleotide sequences. Genome-related information 28 maycontain various information, such as information concerning anamnesis,characteristics, an individual's clinical record, or a result of medicalexamination.

On genome-related information recording medium 24, recorded asgenome-related information 28 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, theindividual's number “Gno.” (G number) peculiar to genome-relatedinformation 28 as well as the individual's information, such as date ofbirth, as data I; polymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns asdata II; anamnesis information as data III; characteristics as data IV;and information concerning the individual's clinical record and the likeas data V. In other words, genome-related information 28 is constitutedby data I, data II, data III, data IV, and data V. Data I and data IIcontain essential information and data III, data IV, and data V arerespectively constituted by additional information.

In genome-related information 28, the “polymorphism address”corresponding to the position on the nucleotide sequence is linked withthe “polymorphism pattern” in the polymorphism address and recorded.Additional information in a predetermined polymorphism address may berecorded in data II as a “comment” linked with a “polymorphism address”.All the nucleotide sequences of a predetermined individual organism maybe recorded in data II. Even when all the nucleotide sequences arerecorded in data II, “polymorphism addresses” and “polymorphismpatterns” are contained within data II.

According to the present invention, personal computer 3 andgenome-related information recording medium 24 are not limited to theconstruction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. For example, agenome-related information recording medium may be equipped with amemory section having a processing program and a personal computer mayhave the genome-related information recording medium mounted thereon tooperate the processing program. In this case, a personal computer can beoperated in accordance with a processing program recorded in a memorysection on a genome-related information recording medium.

In a system for processing information having the above construction,processing program 13 recorded in storage 7 in shared computer 2 andprocessing program 27 recorded in storage 23 in personal computer 3process information in accordance with, for example, flow charts asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the flow charts as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, astep described as “(shared)” refers to processing in shared computer 2and a step described as “(personal)” refers to processing in personalcomputer 3.

The system for processing information is a system in which an individualpossessing genome-related information recording medium 24 accessesshared computer 2 using personal computer 3 through communicationnetwork 1 and utilizes semantic information recorded in main DB 14 inshared computer 2. The system for processing information may be a systemcomprising the genome-related information recording medium 24, havinggenome-related information 28 on a plurality of individuals recordedthereon, to which individuals respectively access.

In this case, when utilizing the system, the requester first startsprocessing program 27, which is recorded in storage 23, in step A1(SA1). Processing program 27 drives reading apparatus 25 in personalcomputer 3 to access genome-related information recording medium 24.Thus, “Gno.” recorded as data I on genome-related information recordingmedium 24 is read out and the read-out “Gno.” is stored in memorysection 26.

In step A2 (SA2), based on a screen image displayed by processingprogram 27 on display device 22, information, the provision of which isdesired by the requester wishes to receive, for example, the “morbidityrate of large-bowel cancer” (requested information), is input topersonal computer 3. At the same time, the “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” and “Gno.” are transmitted to shared computer 2 frompersonal computer 3 through communication network 1. Alternatively, therequester writes the “morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer” and “Gno.”in shared computer 2 from personal computer 3 through communicationnetwork 1.

In step A3 (SA3), shared computer 2 receives the “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” and “Gno.” The received “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” and “Gno.” are stored in memory section A10 asrequest information.

In step A4 (SA4), upon the reception of request information, processingprogram 13 recorded in storage 7 is started to access main DB 14. Thisprocessing program 13 performs processing in shared computer 2.

In step A5 (SA5), in accordance with processing program 13,“classification (name of disease)” recorded in main DB 14 is searchedand information matching with the requested “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” (large-bowel cancer) is extracted.

In step A6 (SA6), from among data recorded in main DB 14, a“polymorphism address” associated with “classification (name ofdisease)” (large-bowel cancer) that matches with the “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” is read out. The read-out “polymorphism address” isstored as positional information associated with request information inmemory section A10. Specifically, the “morbidity rate of large-bowelcancer” and “polymorphism address” are recorded in memory section A10 inassociation with a predetermined “Gno.”

In step A7 (SA7), “Gno.” and “polymorphism address” recorded in memorysection A10 are transmitted to personal computer 3 and instructioninformation instructing submission of a “polymorphism pattern”corresponding to the transmitted “polymorphism address” is transmittedto personal computer 3. At this time, the submission of additionalinformation such as that concerning anamnesis and characteristics may beoptionally instructed depending on the types of request information.

In step A8 (SA8), “Gno.,” “polymorphism address,” and instructioninformation transmitted from shared computer 2, are received. Thereceived “Gno.” and “polymorphism address” are recorded in memorysection 26.

In step A9 (SA9), data II recorded on genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is accessed in accordance with the receivedinstruction information. In step A10 (SA10), in accordance withprocessing program 27, data II recorded on genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is searched, a polymorphism pattern in theinstructed polymorphism address is read out, and the polymorphismpattern is then recorded in memory section 26 in association with thepolymorphism address. In this case, whether the “Gno.” received in stepA8 is correct or not is preferably confirmed by accessing data I. Instep A10, additional information recorded in data III, data IV, and dataV is read out simultaneously with the polymorphism pattern and may beoptionally recorded in memory section 26.

In step A11 (SA11), the temporarily-recorded polymorphism patternassociated with the polymorphism address and the optionally-recordedadditional information in memory section 26 are output to sharedcomputer 2 together with “Gno.” through communication network 1. In stepA12 (SA12), shared computer 2 receives the polymorphism patternassociated with the polymorphism address and the optionally-recordedadditional information, and the received polymorphism pattern isrecorded in memory section A10 in association with the polymorphismaddress.

In this embodiment, in step A7 shared computer 2 transmits instructioninformation instructing submission of the “polymorphism pattern”, and instep A10 personal computer 3 reads out the polymorphism patterns fromgenome-related information recording medium 24 in accordance withinstruction information. The system, however, may not transmit theinstruction information in step A7. In this case, personal computer 3searches data II in step A10 based on the polymorphism address receivedin step A8 and reads out polymorphism patterns of the receivedpolymorphism address in accordance with processing program 27. Then, instep A11, personal computer 3 outputs polymorphism patterns and the liketo shared computer 2. Also in this case, in step A12 shared computer 2can obtain the polymorphism pattern of the “polymorphism address”associated with “classification (name of disease)” that matches the“morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer”.

In step A13 (SA13), main DB 14 is accessed to search informationmatching with the received polymorphism address and polymorphismpatterns. More specifically, a plurality of polymorphism patterns arerecorded in main DB 14 for one polymorphism address. Thus, whichpolymorphism pattern in main DB 14 matches with the receivedpolymorphism address and the polymorphism pattern thereof is searched.

In step A14 (SA14), the morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer which isassociated with the polymorphism pattern matching the receivedpolymorphism pattern is read out in accordance with processing program13. Specifically, in step A14, the morbidity rate of large-bowel cancerof a requester can be read out in accordance with the polymorphismaddress and polymorphism pattern submitted by the requester. Theread-out morbidity rate is stored in memory section A10 in associationwith the requester's “Gno.” At this time, the morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer may be corrected in accordance with additionalinformation and then stored. Alternatively, other information obtainedfrom additional information may be stored in association with therequester's “Gno.” Subsequently, in step A15 (SA15), the requester's“Gno.” and morbidity rate, which are stored in memory section A10, aretransmitted as semantic information to personal computer 3 throughcommunication network 1. Personal computer 3 receives the requester's“Gno.” and morbidity rate (semantic information) in step A16 (SA16). Thereceived semantic information is recorded in memory section 26.

In step A17 (SA17), the morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer isdisplayed on display device 22 based on semantic information recorded inmemory section 26 in accordance with processing program 27. Instead ofsteps A15 to A17, shared computer 2 can read out (prepare) a screen thatdisplays semantic information in accordance with processing program 13,and display it on display device 22 of personal computer 3 throughcommunication network 1. Also in this case, semantic information isconsidered to be transmitted from shared computer 2 to personal computer3. As a result, the requester can obtain the morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer using genome-related information 28 recorded ongenome-related information recording medium 24.

As described above, in this system, utilization of genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24, which has individuals' polymorphismpatterns in association with polymorphism addresses recorded thereon,enables individuals to use semantic information recorded in main DB 14through the polymorphism addresses. In other words, an individualutilizing this system does not have to record semantic information on agenome-related information recording medium. Instead, the individual canobtain various semantic information simply by possessing genome-relatedinformation 28 having the polymorphism pattern associated with thepolymorphism address.

More particularly, as described above, semantic information is correctedand increases in the number of types. Thus, by updating main DB 14 thesemantic information becomes more accurate and includes a wider range ofinformation. According to this system, individuals can utilize thenewest semantic information by updating main DB 14 in line with suchincrease, correction or the like of semantic information.

Further, utilization of genome-related information recording medium 24having genome-related information 28 recorded thereon eliminates theneed for the user to undergo an examination to obtain genome-relatedinformation every time he/she utilizes this system. More specifically,once genome-related information recording medium 24 is produced,thereafter the user can obtain the newest semantic information utilizingthis system.

Retention by the user of genome-related information recording medium 24on which the user's genome-related information 28 has been recorded canprevent apprehension in consigning an external organization to store theuser's genome-related information 28 and the risk of leakage ofgenome-related information 28 through unauthorized access to theorganization. On the other hand, when storage of genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 having a plurality of pieces ofgenome-related information 28 of a plurality of individuals recordedthereon is consigned to an external organization, inefficient handlingof genome-related information recording medium 24 or loss ofgenome-related information recording medium 24 can be prevented, unlikethe case where each individual retains their own genome-relatedinformation recoding medium 24.

In particular, in accordance with the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and7, all the genome-related information 28 recorded on genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 is not necessarily output throughcommunication network 1, and only the part of genome-related information28 for which an instruction for the submission was received may beoutput. According to this system, leakage of highly confidentialpolymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns peculiar to individualscan be prevented.

Also, in accordance with the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,personal computer 3 does not need to handle information recorded in mainDB 14 since shared computer 2 obtains semantic information to provide tothe requester. Thus, in accordance with the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6and 7, desired semantic information can be adequately obtained even ifthe capacity of personal computer 3 to process information is relativelylow. Further, since personal computer 3 does not need to handleinformation recorded in main DB 14, standardization of processingprogram 27 in personal computer 3 in compliance with a card drive andthe like having genome-related information recording medium 24 mountedthereon is facilitated.

In the system for processing information, processing program 13 recordedin storage 7 of shared computer 2 and processing program 27 recorded instorage 23 of personal computer 3 may process information in accordancewith, for example, the flow chart shown in FIG. 8. Also in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, a step described as “(shared)” refers toprocessing in shared computer 2 and a step described as “(personal)”refers to processing in personal computer 3.

When utilizing the system, the requester first starts processing program27 recorded in storage 23 in step B1 (SB1). Processing program 27 drivesreading apparatus 25 in personal computer 3 and accesses genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24, thereby reading out a “Gno.” recordedin genome-related information recording medium 24 as data I. Theread-out “Gno.” is stored in memory section 26.

In step B2 (SB2), based on a screen image displayed by processingprogram 27 on display device 22, information which the requester wishesto receive, for example, the “morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer”(request information), is input to personal computer 3. At the sametime, the “morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer” and “Gno.” aretransmitted to shared computer 2 from personal computer 3 throughcommunication network 1. Concurrently requested is the submission of“polymorphism address” in which “classification (name of disease)” inmain DB 14 is large-bowel cancer, all the “polymorphism patterns”associated with the “polymorphism address,” and the “morbidity rate”implied by all the “polymorphism patterns” respectively. Morespecifically, in step B2, the requester requests information comprisingthe “polymorphism address” in which “classification (name of disease)”in main DB 14 is large-bowel cancer, all the “polymorphism patterns”associated with the “polymorphism address,” and the “morbidity rate”implied by all the “polymorphism patterns” respectively.

In step B3 (SB3), shared computer 2 receives the request information.Shared computer 2 starts processing program 13 upon reception of therequest information and, in step B4 (SB4), accesses main DB 14 inaccordance with processing program 13.

In step B5 (SB5), in accordance with processing program 13,“classification (name of disease)” recorded in main DB 14 is searchedand information matching with the requested “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” (large-bowel cancer) is extracted. In step B6 (SB6),main DB 14 is accessed according to processing program 13 to read outthe “polymorphism address” associated with “classification (name ofdisease)” (large-bowel cancer) that matches the “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer,” all the “polymorphism patterns” associated with thepolymorphism address, and the “morbidity rate” in all the polymorphismpatterns. The read-out “polymorphism address,” “polymorphism pattern,”and “morbidity rate” are stored in memory section A10 in associationwith the request information. Specifically, the “polymorphism address,”the “polymorphism pattern,” and the “morbidity rate” are recorded inmemory section A10 for a predetermined “Gno.”

In step B7 (SB7), the “Gno.” “polymorphism address,” “polymorphismpattern,” and “morbidity rate” recorded in memory section A10 aretransmitted to personal computer 3 through communication network 1. Instep B8 (SB8), the “Gno.” “polymorphism address,” “polymorphismpattern,” and “morbidity rate” transmitted from the shared computer 2are received. The received “Gno.” “polymorphism address,” “polymorphismpattern,” and “morbidity rate” are recorded in memory section 26.

In step B9 (SB9), data II, recorded on genome-related informationrecording medium 24, is accessed according to processing program 27. Inthis case, data I, recorded on genome-related information recordingmedium 24, is also accessed and whether the received “Gno.” is corrector not is preferably confirmed.

In step B10 (SB10), the polymorphism pattern in the polymorphism addressmatching with the received “polymorphism address” is extracted fromgenome-related information 28 according to processing program 27. Instep B10 (SB10), polymorphism pattern matching with the extractedpolymorphism pattern is searched from all the received “polymorphismpatterns” associated with the received polymorphism address.

In step B11 (SB11), the “morbidity rate” associated with the matchingpolymorphism pattern among all the received “polymorphism patterns”associated with the received polymorphism address is extracted and theextracted “morbidity rate” is output. This enables the requester toobtain the morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer (semantic information).In step B11, additional information recorded in data III, data IV, anddata V is simultaneously read out and the morbidity rate of large-bowelcancer may be corrected by the additional information and then output.

More specifically, in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 8,genome-related information 28 recorded on genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is output only to personal computer 3 and other thanthis is not output at all to the outside. That is, genome-relatedinformation 28 is transmitted/received only between genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and personal computer 3. Thus, thesystem can more accurately prevent leakage of highly confidentialgenome-related information 28 peculiar to the individual.

In the system for processing information, processing program 13 recordedin storage 7 of shared computer 2 and processing program 27 recorded instorage 23 of personal computer 3 may process information, for example,in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 9. In the flow chartshown in FIG. 9, a step described as “(shared)” refers to processing inshared computer 2 and a step described as “(personal)” refers toprocessing in personal computer 3.

When utilizing the system, the requester first starts processing program27 recorded in storage 23 in step C1 (SC1). Processing program 27 drivesreading apparatus 25 in personal computer 3 and accesses genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 to read out a “Gno.” recorded therein asdata I and all “polymorphism addresses” and “polymorphism patterns”recorded therein as data II. The read-out “Gno.”, “polymorphismaddress”, and “polymorphism pattern” are stored in memory section 26.

In step C2 (SC2), based on a screen image displayed by processingprogram 27 on display device 22, information which the requester wishesto receive, for example the “morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer”(request information), is input to personal computer 3. At the sametime, the “morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer” and “Gno.”,“polymorphism address,” and “polymorphism pattern” recorded in memorysection 26 are transmitted to shared computer 2 from personal computer 3through communication network 1.

In step C3 (SC3), shared computer 2 receives “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer,” “Gno.”, “polymorphism address,” and “polymorphismpattern.” The received “morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer” isrecorded as request information in memory section A10 and “Gno.”,“polymorphism address” and “polymorphism pattern” are also stored inmemory section A10. Shared computer 2 starts processing program 13 uponreception of the request information and, in step C4 (SC4), accessesmain DB 14 in accordance with processing program 13.

In step C5 (SC5), in accordance with processing program 13,“classification (name of disease)” recorded in main DB 14 is searchedand classification matching with the requested “morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer” (large-bowel cancer) is extracted.

In step C6 (SC6), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance with processingprogram 13 to read out from main DB 14 the “polymorphism address”classified into “large-bowel cancer”, all the “polymorphism patterns”associated with the polymorphism address, and the “morbidity rate” inall the polymorphism patterns. The read-out “polymorphism address,”“polymorphism pattern,” and “morbidity rate” are stored in memorysection A10.

In step C7 (SC7), the data stored in memory section A10 in step C6 issearched based on the “polymorphism address” and the “polymorphismpattern” received in step C3, and a morbidity rate associated withpolymorphism pattern matching with the received “polymorphism pattern”is extracted from memory section A10.

In step C8 (SC8), the result of step C7, that is, the morbidity rateextracted according to which polymorphism pattern in main DB 14 matcheswith the polymorphism pattern contained in the received information instep C3, is transmitted to personal computer 3 through communicationnetwork 1. In this case, shared computer 2 transmits the extractedmorbidity rate together with the requester's “Gno.”

In step C9 (SC9), the “Gno.” and “morbidity rate (semantic information)”transmitted from shared computer 2 is received. The received “Gno.” and“morbidity rate” are recorded in memory section 26. At this time, data Irecorded on genome-related information recording medium 24 is accessedand whether the received “Gno.” is correct or not can be confirmed.

In step C10 (SC10), in accordance with processing program 27, themorbidity rate of large-bowel cancer is displayed on display device 22based on semantic information recorded in memory section 26. Instead ofsteps C8 to C10, shared computer 2 can read out (prepare) a screen thatdisplays semantic information in accordance with processing program 13,and display it on display device 22 of personal computer 3 throughcommunication network 1. Also in this case, semantic information isconsidered to be transmitted from shared computer 2 to personal computer3. This enables the requester to obtain the morbidity rate oflarge-bowel cancer using genome-related information 28 recorded ongenome-related information recording medium 24.

More particularly, in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 9,all the genome-related information 28 recorded on genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 is output to shared computer 2 andsemantic information to provide to the requester is obtained in sharedcomputer 2. In accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 9, even witha relatively small number of times of reception/transmission ofinformation between personal computer 3 and shared computer 2, therequester can obtain semantic information. Therefore, in accordance withthe flow chart shown in FIG. 9, even if the information processingcapacity of personal computer 3 is relatively low, the desired semanticinformation can be adequately provided. In addition, the requester canobtain semantic information in a very simple manner.

As described above, according to the system, on genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and in main DB 14, standardization ofonly “polymorphism addresses” and the “polymorphism patterns” thereofeliminates the need for standardization of other specific data. Thus,the system can be utilized in a wide range of industries. That is, whenproviding information using genome-related information recording medium24, the provider of objects or services can provide information invarious manners without the need to standardize semantic information tocorrespond to the polymorphism pattern or a unified standard such as amethod for transmitting/receiving data.

Furthermore, according to the system, a third party or thirdorganization can easily monitor and control shared computer 2 byexamining main DB 14. Accordingly, as the system can, for example,execute administrative control over the provider of semanticinformation, adequate and ethical control over the provider of semanticinformation can be executed.

Meanwhile, in the system for processing information, a recording mediumin which information contained in data II is removed from agenome-related information recording medium, that is, a recording mediumhaving only data I and additionally data III to V, may be used. In thiscase, information contained in data II is recorded in an externaldatabase (genome-related information recording medium) connected topersonal computer 3 through communication network 1. In such a system,for example, in above-described step A10, the external database isaccessed through communication network 1 and a polymorphism pattern inthe instructed polymorphism address is read out, and the polymorphismpattern can be recorded in association with the polymorphism address inmemory section 26. Thus, in this system, as with the flow charts shownin FIGS. 6 and 7, 8, and 9, the requester can obtain semanticinformation.

In the system for processing information, the requester may have agenome-related information recording medium 24 connected to personalcomputer 3 through communication network 1 instead of the requesterhim/herself has genome-related information recording medium 24 or arecording medium in which information contained in data II is removedfrom the genome-related information recording medium. In such a system,the requester can access genome-related information recording medium 24through communication network 1 to download information such as“polymorphism addresses” and “polymorphism patterns” recorded ongenome-related information recording medium 24 into personal computer 3.In this case, genome-related information recording medium 24 may havegenome-related information of a plurality of individuals for eachindividual (each “Gno.”) recorded thereon.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-describedconstruction in which shared computer 2 comprises main DB 14, and, forexample, is applicable to a system for processing information equippedwith main DB 14 connected to shared computer 2 through communicationnetwork 1. In this case, shared computer 2 accesses main DB 14 throughcommunication network 1 as shown in the flow charts in FIGS. 6 and 7, 8,or 9. In this case also, according to the system for processinginformation, the requester can also obtain desired semantic informationin accordance with the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 8, or 9.

More specifically, shared computer 2 can access a plurality of main DBs14 owned by different organizations or groups through communicationnetwork 1 and can utilize semantic information contained in theseplurality of main DBs 14, thereby providing information to therequester. That is, in the system for processing information, in step A5in the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in step B5 in the flow chartshown in FIG. 8, or in step C5 in the flow chart shown in FIG. 9, sharedcomputer 2 accesses various main DBs 14 having information on themorbidity rate of large-bowel cancer as semantic information. Accordingto the system for processing information, therefore, the requester canobtain information on the morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer frominformation contained in various main DBs 14.

In this system, as shown in the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 8,or 9, shared computer 2 may transmit, at least, the request informationreceived from personal computer 3 to a so-called agent and obtainsemantic information (“morbidity rate of large-bowel cancer” in thisembodiment) through the agent.

2. Second Embodiment

Next, a system for processing information for providing a medicamentappropriate for the diathesis, such as regarding responsiveness to amedicament or immunity to substances, is explained as a secondembodiment to which the present invention has been applied. Regardingthe system for processing information explained as the presentembodiment, explanation of the constitution, operation, and termsthereof is omitted by employing the same appellations, symbols, anddefinitions for the same constitution and terms as with the system forprocessing information according to the above described firstembodiment. The present embodiment is directed to explanation of asystem for providing an object (a medicament) in accordance with requestinformation from the user, and thus, is explained as a simple model forthe convenience of the explanation. More specifically, semanticinformation (drug type) and the like, as shown in FIG. 10, is recordedin main DB 14 in the present embodiment.

The system for processing information for providing a medicament canprovide the most suitable medicament to the user, for example, asaccording to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a step described as “(shared)” refersto processing in shared computer 2 and a step described as “(personal)”refers to processing in personal computer 3.

In step II-1 (SII-1), the requester first accesses, for example, sharedcomputer 2 of a pharmaceutical company from personal computer 3 throughcommunication network 1. Shared computer 2 of a pharmaceutical companymay be, for example, an exclusive computer, a computer for controllingan order for a medicament and information on ordering and shipping, or acomputer for controlling production of a desired medicament bycontrolling a pharmaceutical plant. Shared computer 2 is not limited tothose belonging to a pharmaceutical company and it may belong to anagency or institution for providing information, such as a type of drugor number of medicaments to be provided, to a provider of a medicamentsuch as a pharmaceutical company.

Examples of requesters in the present embodiment include individualspossessing genome-related information recording medium 24, medicalinstitutions possessing genome-related information recording medium 24,and medical institutions utilizing genome-related information recordingmedium 24 possessed by individuals.

In step II-2 (SII-2), in shared computer 2, processing program 13 isstarted in response to the requester's access and a “portal screen fortailor-made non-prescription pharmaceuticals” is read from screen memory12 to display on display device 22 of personal computer 3. Examples ofthe “portal screen for tailor-made non-prescription pharmaceuticals”include a screen image as shown in FIG. 13.

In step II-3 (SII-3), the requester equips genome-related informationrecording medium 24 into reading apparatus 25 in accordance with aninstruction on the “portal screen for tailor-made non-prescriptionpharmaceuticals” so as to enable access to genome-related informationrecording medium 24 using personal computer 3. In this case, whether ornot the requester is an authorized user of genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is preferably authenticated. In step II-4 (SII-4),the requester then clicks an “OK” button displayed on the “portal screenfor tailor-made non-prescription pharmaceuticals” to transmit one'sintent to utilize the system to shared computer 2.

In step II-5 (SII-5), a “medicament category menu” screen is read fromscreen memory 12 in shared computer 2 in accordance with processingprogram 13 and displayed on display device 22 of personal computer 3.Examples of a “medicament category menu” screen include a screen imageas shown in FIG. 14.

In step II-6 (SII-6), the requester selects the desired medicamentcategory (medicament) in accordance with the “medicament category menu”screen that has been accessed with personal computer 3.

In step II-7 (SII-7), reading apparatus 25 of personal computer 3accesses genome-related information recording medium 24 and reads out“Gno.” from data I. In step II-8 (SII-8), “Gno.” read out in step II-7and the “medicament category” (request information) selected in stepII-6 are transmitted to shared computer 2 through communication network1.

In step II-9 (SII-9), shared computer 2 receives “Gno.” and “medicamentcategory” and the “Gno.” and the “medicament category” are stored inmemory section A10. In the present embodiment, the “level of disclosure”is associated with semantic information that is recorded in main DB 14.The “level of disclosure” in this embodiment indicates whether or notsemantic information and information associated with the semanticinformation should be disclosed to the user of the information. Morespecifically, recorded, in association with semantic information, are:“level of disclosure A” designating a level that may be disclosed onlywhen the requester has been authenticated; “level of disclosure B”designating a level that may be disclosed to any requester irrespectiveof whether the requester has been authenticated or not; and “prohibitionagainst disclosure” designating a level that should not be disclosed toany requester.

Shared computer 2 comprises, for example, a database having “informationregarding the authenticated requester such as ‘requester No.’” (notshown, hereinafter referred to as “requester information database”)previously recorded in database 8.

The requester transmits the “requester No.” to shared computer 2together with “Gno.” and request information. When services usingsemantic information associated with “level of disclosure A” andinformation associated with the semantic information are to be providedto the requester, shared computer 2 accesses the “requester informationdatabase” to judge, based on the received “requester No.”, whether ornot the requester has been authenticated.

When the requester is judged to be authenticated, shared computer 2registers “level of disclosure A” in association with the “Gno.”received from personal computer 3 in storage 7. In the subsequent step,shared computer 2 searches the “level of disclosure” in main DB 14 basedon the registered “level of disclosure A” and provides services usingsemantic information associated with “level of disclosure A” andinformation associated with the semantic information to the requester.On the other hand, when the requester is judged to be unauthenticated,shared computer 2 immediately cancels processing or registers “level ofdisclosure B” in association with the received “Gno.” in storage 7. Inthe subsequent step, shared computer 2 searches the “level ofdisclosure” in main DB 14 based on the registered “level of disclosureB” and provides services using semantic information associated with“level of disclosure B” and information associated with the semanticinformation to the requester. Thus, use of the “level of disclosure”enables the determination whether or not the disclosure of semanticinformation and information associated with the semantic information isapproved.

In the present embodiment, because the system is one for providingnon-prescription medicaments, the requesters are an unspecified largenumber of people without the need of previous authentication. Thissystem, therefore, eliminates the need to judge whether or not therequester has been authenticated. For this reason, in step II-9, uponthe receipt of request information (medicament category), “level ofdisclosure B” is automatically selected and registered in strorage 7 inassociation with the “Gno.”

Next, in step II-10 (SII-10), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance withprocessing program 13. Then, in step II-11 (SII-11), from thepolymorphism addresses contained in main DB 14, processing program 13selects the polymorphism address which matches with the received“medicament category” and for which disclosure is approved by the “levelof disclosure,” that is, one for which “level of disclosure B” has beenset. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, “major classification,” “middleclassification,” and “minor classification” are recorded in associationwith one another based on predetermined polymorphism addresses in mainDB 14. Among them, the middle classification categorizes the medicamentcategory. Thus, a polymorphism address which matches with the received(“medicament category” can be selected by searching “middleclassification” based on the received “medicament category.” Forexample, in the “medicament category menu” in step II-5, when, inaddition to a non-prescription medicament, there is a prescriptionmedicament to be provided as an option only to a user withauthentication for “level of disclosure A,” if a requester without theauthentication for “level of disclosure A” requests both thenon-prescription medicament and the prescription medicament, the requestfor the prescription medicament will be denied based on the level ofdisclosure in main DB 14, and in step II-11, only the polymorphismaddress associated with the non-prescription medicament is selected.

In step II-12 (SII-12), the selected “polymorphism address” “medicamentcategory” and “Gno.” are recorded in memory section B11. At this time,in step II-13 (SII-13), in the system, an “anonymous polymorphismaddress” (secondary positional information) is set in compliance with apredetermined regulation and the like based on the “polymorphismaddress” (positional information) which is recorded in memory sectionB11, and linked to the “polymorphism address” in memory section B11 torecord the “anonymous polymorphism address” in memory section B11. This“anonymous polymorphism address” is linked only to the “polymorphismaddress” selected in step II-11 whereas the “polymorphism address”itself directly represents a position of the polymorphism pattern in anucleotide sequence. That is, the “anonymous polymorphism address” doesnot directly represent a position of a polymorphism pattern in anucleotide sequence. In other words, “the anonymous polymorphismaddress” is set by allocating, for example, serial numbers, alphabeticalcharacters, or random numbers to the “polymorphism address” selected instep II-11.

In step II-14 (SII-14), in accordance with processing program 13,informed consent (hereinafter abbreviated to “IC”) concerning thesubmission of polymorphism patterns is asked of the requester.Specifically, in step II-14 (SII-14), an “input screen for individual ICconfirmation” is read from screen memory 12 in accordance withprocessing program 13 and information on the received “medicamentcategory” is incorporated therein. Then, the “input screen forindividual IC confirmation” is displayed on display device 22 ofpersonal computer 3. Examples of an “input screen for individual ICconfirmation” include a screen image as shown in FIG. 15.

In step II-15 (SII-15), in accordance with the “input screen forindividual IC confirmation” displayed on display device 22 of personalcomputer 3, the requester inputs their consent for submission ofpolymorphism patterns. This indicates that the requester has consentedto submit polymorphism patterns.

In step II-16 (SII-16), data I on genome-related information recordingmedium 24 is accessed to read out “Gno.” In step II-17 (SII-17), theread-out “Gno.” and the “individual IC confirmation” input in step II-15are transmitted to shared computer 2.

In step II-18 (SII-18), shared computer 2 receives the “Gno.” and“individual IC confirmation” transmitted from personal computer 3, andthe received “individual IC confirmation” is stored in memory sectionA10. When storing the “individual IC confirmation,” the “individual ICconfirmation” is associated with the “Gno.” in the data stored in memorysection A10 that matches with the received “Gno.”

In step II-19 (SII-19), the “polymorphism address” and the “anonymouspolymorphism address” stored in steps II-12 and II-13 are read frommemory section B11.

In step II-20 (SII-20), the read-out “polymorphism address” istransmitted to personal computer 3 in association with the read-out“anonymous polymorphism address,” and instruction information thatinstructs the submission of the polymorphism pattern corresponding tothe “polymorphism address” and the “anonymous polymorphism address”associated with the polymorphism pattern is output to personal computer3.

In step II-21 (SII-21), the “polymorphism address” and “anonymouspolymorphism address” transmitted from shared computer 2 as well as theinstruction information are received, and genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is accessed in accordance with processing program27. In step II-22 (SII-22), from data II in genome-related information28, the processing program 27 extracts and reads out the polymorphismaddress as well as the polymorphism pattern corresponding to thepolymorphism address requested by the instruction information, and readsout “Gno.” from data I.

In step II-23 (SII-23), the read-out polymorphism pattern is associatedwith the anonymous polymorphism address set for the polymorphism addressof the polymorphism pattern, and these are transmitted together with“Gno.” from personal computer 3 to shared computer 2. Specifically, instep II-23, the anonymous polymorphism address, the polymorphismpattern, and the Gno. are transmitted from personal computer 3 to sharedcomputer 2 through communication network 1. In this case, thepolymorphism address is not transmitted in association with thepolymorphism pattern from personal computer 3. Also, the anonymouspolymorphism address does not directly represent a position of thepolymorphism pattern in a nucleotide sequence. Thus, even if the contenttransmitted in step II-23 is leaked externally due to unforeseencircumstances, the position of the polymorphism pattern in thenucleotide sequence cannot be determined.

In step II-24 (SII-24), the anonymous polymorphism address, thepolymorphism pattern associated with the anonymous polymorphism address,and “Gno.” transmitted from personal computer 3 are received, and thereceived polymorphism pattern is stored in memory section B11. Whenstoring the “polymorphism pattern,” the “polymorphism pattern” isassociated with the “Gno.” and the “anonymous polymorphism address” inthe data stored in memory section B11 that match with the received“Gno.” and “anonymous polymorphism address.” According to the procedurein step II-24, the “Gno.”, the “polymorphism address,” the “anonymouspolymorphism address” set for each polymorphism address and“polymorphism pattern” are recorded in association with one another inmemory section B11.

In step II-25 (SII-25), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance withprocessing program 13. In step II-26 (SII-26), main DB 14 is searchedbased on the “middle classification (medicament category),” the“polymorphism address,” and the “polymorphism pattern” thereof stored inmemory section B11, and the “drug type” associated with the matchingpolymorphism pattern is read out (see FIG. 10). “Drug type” herein is,in the medicament category classified by the “middle classification” asshown in FIG. 10, semantic information implying information such as acomponent, a dose, and the like suitable for individuals havingpredetermined polymorphism patterns. When a plurality of pieces ofsemantic information is associated with one polymorphism pattern, eachpiece of semantic information is read out.

In step II-27 (SII-27), the obtained “drug type” is stored in memorysection B11 in accordance with processing program 13. In step II-28(SII-28), the “medicament category” and “drug type” are read from memorysection B11 in accordance with processing program 13. In step II-29(SII-29), a “confirmation screen” corresponding to the read-out“medicament category” and “drug type” is read from screen memory 12 inaccordance with processing program 13 and displayed on display device 22of personal computer 3. Examples of a “confirmation screen” include ascreen image as shown in FIG. 16.

In step II-30 (SII-30), the requester clicks an “order screen” button onthe “confirmation screen” of personal computer 3 upon confirmation of“name of medicament,” “drug type” and the like on the “confirmationscreen” to thereby read out the “order screen” (not shown) from screenmemory 12 and input order information. Order information includesinformation for identifying the requester, the quantity with respect toa medicament name falling within the drug type displayed on the orderscreen, the methods for reception and payment, and the like.

In step II-31 (SII-31), a “Gno.” is read from data I of genome-relatedinformation 28 by accessing genome-related information recording medium24 in accordance with processing program 27. In step II-32 (SII-32), theread-out “Gno.” and order information input in step II-30 aretransmitted to shared computer 2 in accordance with processing program27.

In step II-33 (SII-33), shared computer 2 receives “Gno.” and “orderinformation” transmitted from personal computer 3 and stores the orderinformation in memory section A10. When storing the order information,among the data stored in memory section A10, the “order information” isassociated with a “Gno.” matching the received “Gno.”

In step II-34 (SII-34), a “confirmation screen for acceptance of order”(not shown) is read from screen memory 12 in accordance with processingprogram 13 to display the “confirmation screen for acceptance of order”on display device 22 of personal computer 3. In step II-35 (SII-35), therequester then confirms the order contents in accordance with theinstructions on the “confirmation screen for acceptance of order”. Therequester, by the above processes, thus completes ordering of amedicament suitable for the individual possessing genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24.

Meanwhile, in step II-36 (SII-36), essential information such as“medicament name (information associated with semantic information),”“drug type (semantic information)” and “quantity” is extracted fromorder information stored in memory section A10 and the extractedinformation is then transmitted to a provider of medicaments (the userof semantic information and information associated with the semanticinformation) such as a pharmaceutical plant or distribution center.Essential information refers to information which is required in theproduction or delivery of medicaments requested by the requester. Aprovider of medicaments includes a producer of medicaments suitable forthe requester through the adjustment of medicament ingredients,component ratio and the like in accordance with the “medicament name”and the “drug type,” or a provider of medicaments that providesmedicaments by selecting from plural types of medicaments that werepreviously produced with varying medicament ingredients, componentratios and the like based on the “medicament name” and “drug type”.According to the above procedures, the provider of medicaments producesor delivers medicaments suitable for individuals possessinggenome-related information recording medium 24.

In shared computer 2, the procedure finally advances to step II-37(SII-37). In step II-37, the contents stored in memory section A10 andmemory section B11 are separately stored in storage DB-A15 and storageDB-B16 respectively. The contents stored in memory section A10 andmemory section B11 are then deleted. At this time, the “anonymouspolymorphism address” in the content stored in memory section B11 ispreferably deleted.

Steps II-34 and II-35 are directed to a final confirmation of the orderby the requester, and thus, are not essential in the system.Specifically, the system may proceed in such a manner that step II-33 isfollowed by step II-36. In this case, the requester completes orderingof medicaments suitable for an individual possessing genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 in step II-32.

According to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, informationassociated with the semantic information recorded in main DB 14 as the“drug type” can be utilized using genome-related information 28 havingindividuals' polymorphism patterns in association with polymorphismaddresses recorded therein. According to the system, therefore, amedicament suitable for an individual possessing genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 can be obtained based on the diathesis,including responsiveness to a medicament or immunity against substances,of the individual.

More particularly, semantic information is corrected and increases thenumber of types thereof as described above. Thus by updating main DB 14the semantic information becomes more accurate and includes a widerrange of information. According to this system, individuals can utilizethe newest semantic information by updating main DB 14 in line with suchincrease, correction or the like of semantic information.

In accordance with flow charts such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, usingthe level of disclosure which has been previously recorded in main DB14, the allowable range of disclosure of semantic information andinformation associated with the semantic information can be limiteddepending on the requester. According to the system, therefore, thedisclosure of highly confidential semantic information and informationassociated with the semantic information in response to a request madeby an unapproved requester can be prevented. Thus, use of the level ofdisclosure enables the observation of laws, regulations, behavioralstandards of an organization having the shared computer 2 or the like.

Further, in the flow charts as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in step II-23the anonymous polymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns aretransmitted from personal computer 3 to shared computer 2 throughcommunication network 1. In the system, therefore, even if informationtransmitted in step II-23 was leaked externally due to unforeseencircumstances, the position of the polymorphism pattern in a nucleotidesequence contained in the information cannot be determined. In otherwords, use of the anonymous polymorphism address in the system canprevent leakage of an individual's information without the use of ahighly developed encryption technique. Therefore, the concealment of anindividual's information is enhanced in the system since informationtransmitted in step II-23 is unavailable to others. Furthermore, in thetransmission of the information in step II-23, if the information isencrypted in accordance with a commonly performed system, concealmentcan be further enhanced.

In accordance with the flow charts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, memorysection A10 has the “Gno.”, “requested medicament category,” “ICconfirmation,” and “order information” stored therein, as shown in FIG.17, and memory section B11 has the “Gno.”, “requested medicamentcategory,” “polymorphism address,” “anonymous polymorphism address,”“polymorphism pattern,” and “drug type” stored therein, as shown in FIG.18. Linking of the information for identifying the requester and thegenetic information of the requester is made complicated by separatingmemory section A10, which stores the “order information” containinginformation to identify the requester from memory section B11, whichstores the “polymorphism pattern” as genetic information of therequester oneself. This can conceal the correlation between a specific“polymorphism pattern” and information identifying the individualdescribed in the “order information.” The specific “polymorphismpattern” is linked to the “order information” through “Gno.” and thusthey can be associated with each other if necessary.

In the system, information stored in memory section A10 and informationstored in memory section B11 are separately stored in storage DB-A15 andstorage DB-B16 respectively. Thus, even when the “order information”,“polymorphism address” and “polymorphism pattern” of the requester isstored for a long period of time, the correlation between informationfor identifying the individual described in the “order information” andthe “polymorphism address” and “polymorphism pattern” can be concealedaccording to the system. In this case, therefore, security againstinformation leakage can be further enhanced.

In the system, when transmitting information to the provider ofmedicaments such as a pharmaceutical plant or a distribution center instep II-36, “Gno.” is not contained in the information. Instead, theinformation preferably comprises, for example, the “order No.”, the“medicament name,” the “drug type,” the “number of tablets,” the “numberof boxes,” and the like, as shown in FIG. 19. In this case, informationtransmitted to the provider of medicaments contains no “Gno.”, and thusthe “Gno.” cannot be identity from the information. This makes itimpossible to specify the individual who possesses the genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 corresponding to the “Gno.” In thiscase, therefore, the “polymorphism pattern” and “order information” ofan individual can be surely concealed and the security againstinformation leakage can be further enhanced.

In the above embodiment, the system for processing information forproviding medicaments suitable for individuals using polymorphismaddresses and polymorphism patterns contained in genome-relatedinformation 28 was described. The system, however, is not limited tomedicaments but is also applicable to the provision of objects such asfoods, cosmetics, or organism-related materials. In this case, forexample, as semantic information implied by the polymorphism pattern andinformation associated with semantic information, a type of substancecontained in an object such as food, cosmetics, or organism-relatedmaterials is selected using, for example, immunity against substances orresponsiveness to medicaments as an index. A suitable object for theindividual can be provided by producing or selecting an object inaccordance with the type of selected substances and the like.

As described above, according to the system, on genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and in main DB 14, standardization ofonly “polymorphism addresses” and the “polymorphism patterns” thereofeliminates the need for standardization of other specific data. Thus,the system can be utilized in a wide range of industries. That is, whenproviding information using genome-related information recording medium24, the provider of objects or services can provide information invarious manners without the need to standardize semantic information tocorrespond to the polymorphism pattern or a unified standard such as amethod for transmitting/receiving data.

Furthermore, according to the system, a third party or thirdorganization can easily monitor and control shared computer 2 byexamining main DB 14. Accordingly, as the system can, for example,execute administrative control over the provider of semanticinformation, adequate and ethical control over the provider of semanticinformation can be executed.

3. Third Embodiment

Next, a system for processing information is explained as a thirdembodiment to which the present invention has been applied, whereinsuitable medical examination items are provided to the individual basedon the morbidity rate of a predetermined disease.

Regarding the system for processing information explained as the presentembodiment, the explanation of its constitution, operation, and termsthereof is omitted by employing the same appellations, symbols, anddefinitions for the same constitution and terms as with the system forprocessing information according to the above described the first andthe second embodiments. The present embodiment is directed toexplanation of a system for providing medical examination items based onrequest information from the user and, thus, is explained as a simplemodel for the convenience of explanation.

More specifically, semantic information and the like such as is shown inFIG. 20 is recorded in main DB 14 in the present embodiment. Main DB 14according to the present embodiment has semantic information that isimplied by a polymorphism pattern in association with the polymorphismpattern of a predetermined polymorphism address as “annotativeinformation on the polymorphism pattern.” In this “annotativeinformation on the polymorphism pattern,” five value levels are set fromthe highest level “5,” which represents a high morbidity rate withrespect to a disease classified in the “minor classification,” to “1,”which represents a low morbidity rate. When indicating the morbidityrate of the predetermined disease by a combination of the polymorphismpattern of the predetermined polymorphism address with a polymorphismpattern of other polymorphism address, a value “Z” is set in “annotativeinformation on the polymorphism pattern” corresponding to thepredetermined polymorphism address and a value “Y” is set in “annotativeinformation on the polymorphism pattern.” corresponding to the otherpolymorphism address,

In the present embodiment, link DB 30 as shown in FIG. 21 is used, whichrepresents a correspondence between a polymorphism address with thevalue “Z” being set in “annotative information on the polymorphismpattern” and a polymorphism address where the value “Y,” which is to becombined with the polymorphism address with the value “Z,” is set. Inlink DB 30, a possible polymorphism pattern (described as “pattern Z” inFIG. 21) of the polymorphism address with the value “Z” being set(described as “polymorphism address Z” in FIG. 21) is associated with apossible polymorphism pattern (described as “pattern Y” in FIG. 21) ofthe polymorphism address with the value “Y” being set (described as“polymorphism address Y” in FIG. 21) which is to be combined with the“polymorphism address Z”. Further, in link DB 30, the morbidity rate isassociated with a combination of “pattern Z” and “pattern Y”. Link DB 30may be stored in database 8 of shared computer 2 or may be providedexternally to shared computer 2.

Main DB 14 described in the present embodiment may be controlled by, forexample, a public organization or group. In this case, information thatis not directly required when selecting medical examination items, whichhave been classified in a major classification according to, forexample, “responsiveness to drug” or “drug side-effect,” is alsoincluded.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment genome-related informationrecording medium 24 on which polymorphism addresses and polymorphismpatterns as shown in FIG. 22 are recorded is exemplified and explained.Exemplified in FIG. 22 are a polymorphism address, which corresponds tothe polymorphism address exemplified in main DB 14 shown in FIG. 20, anda polymorphism pattern thereof.

According to the system for processing information that provides medicalexamination items, the most suitable medical examination can be providedto the user in accordance with, for example, the flow charts shown inFIGS. 23 and 24. In the flow charts shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, a stepdescribed as “(shared)” refers to processing in shared computer 2 and astep described as “(personal)” refers to processing in personal computer3.

In step III-1 (SIII-1), the requester first accesses shared computer 2belonging to, for example, a medical examination center (hereinafterreferred to as a “medical center”), from personal computer 3 throughcommunication network 1. Examples of the requester include individualswho possess genome-related information recording medium 24, medicalinstitutions that possess genome-related information recording medium24, and medical institutions that utilize genome-related informationrecording medium 24 possessed by individuals.

When individuals possess genome-related information recording medium 24,a card-type recording medium can be exemplified as genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and the individuals, the medicalinstitutions using genome-related information recording medium 24 of theindividuals, or the like utilize the system as the requester. Incontrast, when medical institutions possess genome-related informationrecording medium 24, examples of genome-related information recordingmedium 24 include a database-type recording medium having a plurality ofpieces of genome-related information 28 of a plurality of individualsrecorded thereon and the medical institutions utilize the system as therequester.

In the present embodiment, an individual possesses genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and the individual (the examinee) is thesubject of a medical examination, while the medical institution thatcarries out the medical examination on the examinee is the requester.Thus, personal computer 3 belongs to a medical institution in thefollowing description.

Shared computer 2 may be that of an agent or group for providing desiredinformation on medical examination items and information associatedtherewith to a requester of information on medical examination items aswell as that of a medical center.

In step III-2 (SIII-2), processing program 13 is started upon access bythe requester and a “portal screen for medical examination” is read fromscreen memory 12 in shared computer 2 to display on display device 22 ofpersonal computer 3. Examples of “a portal screen for medicalexamination” include a screen image as shown in FIG. 25.

In step III-3 (SIII-3), the requester loads genome-related informationrecording medium 24 into reading apparatus 25 in accordance withinstructions on the “portal screen for medical examination,” therebyenabling access to genome-related information recording medium 24 usingpersonal computer 3. In this case, whether or not the requester is anauthorized user of genome-related information recording medium 24 ispreferably confirmed. Thereafter, in step III-4 (SIII-4), the requesterclicks an “OK” button displayed on the “portal screen for medicalexamination” to transmit their intent to utilize the system to sharedcomputer 2.

In step III-5 (SIII-5), a “medical examination course menu” screen isread from screen memory 12 in accordance with processing program 13 inshared computer 2 and displayed on display device 22 of personalcomputer 3. Examples of the “medical examination course menu” screeninclude a screen image as shown in FIG. 26.

In step III-6 (SIII-6), in accordance with the “medical examinationcourse menu” screen to which the requester has accessed with personalcomputer 3, the requester selects a desired medical examination coursefor the examinee based on the intent of the examinee. The presentembodiment describes the case where an “entrusted check-up course” wasselected from among the medical examination courses. The “entrustedcheck-up course” refers to a course that conducts a medical examinationusing a combination of examination items that are common for all coursesand specific examination items selected according to the medicalexaminee's diathesis and the like, i.e., examination items to beselected when the morbidity rate of a predetermined disease of theexaminee is high.

Shared computer 2 has a “medical examination table” as a database, whichhas a series of examination items that were used in medical examinationspreviously accumulated therein. In this “medical examination table,” forexample, as shown in FIG. 27, “major classification,” “middleclassification,” and “minor classification” are associated withinformation on the examination method, examinee preparation and thelike. “Major classification” categorizes examination items which arecommon among all medical examination courses as “basic” regardless ofthe level of morbidity rate, and examination items which are selectedwhen the morbidity rate is high are categorized as “morbidity rate.”However, even though an examination item is classified as “basic,” it isalso classified in the “morbidity rate” category when the morbidity rateis preferably judged prior to the medical examination from the viewpointof guidance for improvement of living conditions after the medicalexamination. The “morbidity rate” in “major classification” in themedical examination table corresponds to the “morbidity rate” in “majorclassification” in main DB 14. Also, “middle classification” and “minorclassification” in the medical examination table correspond to “middleclassification” and “minor classification,” respectively, in main DB 14.

In step III-7 (SIII-7), reading apparatus 25 of personal computer 3accesses genome-related information recording medium 24 to read out“Gno.” from data I. In step III-8 (SIII-8), “Gno.” read out in stepIII-7 and “medical examination course (entrusted check-up course)”(request information), which was selected in step III-6, are transmittedto shared computer 2 through communication network 1.

In step III-9 (SIII-9), shared computer 2 receives the “Gno.” and the“medical examination course,” and the “Gno.” and the “medicalexamination course” are stored in memory section A10. In the presentembodiment, the “level of disclosure” is associated with semanticinformation that is recorded in main DB 14. The “level of disclosure” inthis embodiment indicates whether or not semantic information andinformation associated with the semantic information should be disclosedto the user of the information. More specifically, recorded, inassociation with semantic information, are: “level of disclosure A”designating a level that may be disclosed only when the requester hasbeen authenticated; “level of disclosure B” designating a level that maybe disclosed to any requester irrespective of whether the requester hasbeen authenticated or not; and “prohibition against disclosure” (notshown in FIG. 20) designating a level that should not be disclosed toany requester.

Shared computer 2 comprises, for example, a database having “informationregarding the authenticated requester such as ‘requester No.’” (notshown, hereinafter referred to as “requester information database”)previously recorded in database 8.

The requester transmits the “requester No.” to shared computer 2together with “Gno.” and request information. When services usingsemantic information associated with “level of disclosure A” andinformation associated with the semantic information are to be providedto the requester, shared computer 2 accesses the “requester informationdatabase” to judge, based on the received “requester No.”, whether ornot the requester has been authenticated.

When the requester is judged to be authenticated, shared computer 2registers “level of disclosure A” in association with the “Gno.”received from personal computer 3 in strorage 7. In the subsequent step,shared computer 2 searches the “level of disclosure” in main DB 14 basedon the registered “level of disclosure A” and provides services usingsemantic information associated with “level of disclosure A” andinformation associated with the semantic information to the requester.On the other hand, when the requester is judged to be unauthenticated,shared computer 2 immediately cancels processing or registers “level ofdisclosure B” in association with the received “Gno.” in storage 7. Inthe subsequent step, shared computer 2 searches the “level ofdisclosure” in main DB 14 based on the registered “level of disclosureB” and provides services using semantic information associated with“level of disclosure B” and information associated with the semanticinformation to the requester. Thus, use of the “level of disclosure”enables the determination whether or not the disclosure of semanticinformation and information associated with the semantic information isapproved.

In the present embodiment, because the system is one for providingmedical examination items and examinee is an unspecified large number ofpeople, the requesters need not to be authenticated previously. Thissystem, therefore, eliminates the need to judge whether or not therequester has been authenticated. For this reason, in step III-9, uponthe receipt of request information (medical examination course), “levelof disclosure B” is automatically selected and registered in storage 7in association with the “Gno.” Examples of a case where “level ofdisclosure A” is selected include the case in which the requester is anauthenticated medical institution or the like that intends to obtain allthe information necessary for treating a patient (e.g., morbidity rateand responsiveness to medicaments).

Next, in step III-10 (SIII-10), main DB 14 is accessed in accordancewith processing program 13. In step III-11 (SIII-11), from main DB 14,processing program 13 selects polymorphism address that is classified as“morbidity rate” in “major classification” and for which “level ofdisclosure B” has been set, and reads out the “polymorphism address,”“middle classification,” and “minor classification.” More specifically,since “entrusted check-up course” was received as request information instep III-9, examination items should be selected by judging the level ofmorbidity rate of the predetermined disease of the examinee in advance.In order to comply with the request information, “morbidity rate”classified in the major classification of main DB 14 (i.e. having“morbidity rate” as semantic information) is selected and the“polymorphism address” corresponding thereto is read out. That is tosay, the “polymorphism address” corresponding to the request informationis read out.

In step III-12 (SIII-12), the “polymorphism address,” “middleclassification,” “minor classification,” and “Gno.”, which were read-outin accordance with the request information, are recorded in memorysection B11. At this time, according to the present system, in stepIII-13 (SIII-13), an “anonymous polymorphism address” is set for the“polymorphism address” recorded in memory section B11 and linked withthe “polymorphism address” in memory section B11, thereby recording the“anonymous polymorphism address” in memory section B11. This “anonymouspolymorphism address” is of the same concept as the “anonymouspolymorphism address” described in the second embodiment.

In step III-14 (SIII-14), in accordance with processing program 13,informed consent (hereinafter abbreviated to “IC”) concerning thesubmission of genome-related information 28 and the content of semanticinformation and information associated with the semantic information isasked of the requester. Specifically, in step III-14, an “input screenfor individual IC confirmation” is read from screen memory 12 inaccordance with processing program 13 and information on the received“medical examination course” is incorporated therein. Then, the “inputscreen for individual IC confirmation” is displayed on display device 22of personal computer 3. Examples of the “input screen for individual ICconfirmation” include a screen image as shown in FIG. 28.

In step III-15 (SIII-15), in accordance with the “input screen forindividual IC confirmation” displayed on display device 22 of personalcomputer 3, the requester obtains the consent of the examinee regardingthe submission of the polymorphism patterns and the content of semanticinformation and information associated with the semantic information,and inputs the fact that the examinee has consented. This indicates thatthe examinee has consented to the submission of the polymorphism patternand the content of semantic information and information associated withthe semantic information. The consent to the submission of polymorphismpatterns and the content of semantic information and informationassociated with the semantic information in step III-15 may be carriedout by using the “medical examination portal” screen in step III-2 orthe “medical examination course menu” screen in step III-5.

In step III-16 (SIII-16), the requester accesses data I ofgenome-related information recording medium 24 to read out “Gno.” Instep III-17 (SIII-17), the readout “Gno.” and the “individual ICconfirmation” input in step III-15 are transmitted to shared computer 2.

In step III-18 (SIII-18), shared computer 2 receives the “Gno.” and“individual IC confirmation” transmitted from personal computer 3 andstores the received “individual IC confirmation” in memory section A10.When storing the “individual IC confirmation,” among the data stored inmemory section A10, “individual IC confirmation” is associated with a“Gno.” matching with the received “Gno.”

In step III-19 (SIII-19), the “polymorphism address” and the “anonymouspolymorphism address,” stored in steps III-12 and III-13, are read outfrom memory section B11. In step III-20 (SIII-20), the read-out“polymorphism address” is transmitted to personal computer 3 inassociation with the read-out “anonymous polymorphism address” andinstruction information that instructs the submission of thepolymorphism pattern corresponding to the “polymorphism address” and the“anonymous polymorphism address” associated with the polymorphismpattern is output to personal computer 3.

In step III-21 (SIII-21), the “polymorphism address” and “anonymouspolymorphism address” transmitted from shared computer 2 as well asinstruction information are received. At the same time, genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 is accessed in accordance with theinstruction information. At this time, the received “polymorphismaddress” and “anonymous polymorphism address” are stored in memorysection 26. In step III-22 (SIII-22), in accordance with the instructioninformation, processing program 27 extracts and reads out the requestedpolymorphism address and the polymorphism pattern corresponding to thepolymorphism address from data II of genome-related information 28, andreads out “Gno.” from data I.

In step III-23 (SIII-23), the polymorphism pattern read-out in stepIII-22 is transmitted in association with the anonymous polymorphismaddress corresponding to the polymorphism address corresponding to thepolymorphism pattern, together with the “Gno.” from personal computer 3to shared computer 2. At this time, personal computer 3 transmits thepolymorphism pattern and the anonymous polymorphism address associatedwith the polymorphism pattern, although personal computer 3 does nottransmit any polymorphism address associated with the polymorphismpattern. Since the anonymous polymorphism address does not directlyrepresent a position of the polymorphism pattern in the nucleotidesequence, the position of the polymorphism pattern in the nucleotidesequence cannot be determined even if the contents transmitted in stepIII-23 are leaked externally due to unforeseen circumstances.

In step III-24 (SIII-24), the anonymous polymorphism address, thepolymorphism pattern associated with the anonymous polymorphism addressand “Gno.” transmitted from personal computer 3 are received and thereceived polymorphism pattern is stored in memory section B11. Whenstoring the “polymorphism pattern,” the “polymorphism pattern” isassociated with the “Gno.” and “anonymous polymorphism address” in thedata stored in memory section B11 that match with the received “Gno.”and “anonymous polymorphism address”.

In step III-25 (SIII-25), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance withprocessing program 13. In step III-26 (SIII-26), main DB 14 is searchedbased on “middle classification,” “minor classification,” “polymorphismaddress” and the “polymorphism pattern” thereof stored in memory sectionB11, and the “annotative information on polymorphism pattern” associatedwith the matching polymorphism pattern is read out (see FIG. 20). The“annotative information on the polymorphism pattern” herein is semanticinformation implying the morbidity rate of the disease classified in the“middle classification” and the “minor classification” as shown in FIG.20. When a plurality of pieces of semantic information is associatedwith one polymorphism pattern, each piece of semantic information isread out.

The “annotative information on the polymorphism pattern” in the presentembodiment includes five levels of values that indicate morbidity rate,a value “Z” that indicates the morbidity rate of a predetermined diseaseby combining a polymorphism pattern of a predetermined polymorphismaddress with the polymorphism pattern of an other polymorphism address,and a value “Y” that indicates the other polymorphism address.

In step III-26, when the read-out “annotative information on thepolymorphism pattern” is value “Z,” processing program 13 accesses linkDB 30 shown in FIG. 21. Processing program 13 first searches link DB 30based on the “polymorphism address” and the “polymorphism pattern”associated with value “Z,” and selects the other polymorphism address(polymorphism address Y) to be combined with the “polymorphism addressZ.” Subsequently, based on the selected polymorphism address Y, thepolymorphism pattern (pattern Y) of the polymorphism address Y is readfrom memory section B11. Link DB 30 is then searched based on theread-out pattern Y of the polymorphism address Y to select thecombination corresponded to the pattern Z of the polymorphism address Zand the pattern Y of the polymorphism address Y. The morbidity rateassociated with the selected combination is read out from link DB 30.

In step III-27 (SIII-27), in accordance with processing program 13, theobtained “annotative information on the polymorphism pattern,” that is,a morbidity rate, is stored in memory section B11 in association withthe “polymorphism pattern.” Thus, as shown in FIG. 29, “annotativeinformation on the polymorphism pattern” is associated with the “middleclassification” and “minor classification” in memory section B11. Thus,for example, a morbidity rate of the disease indicated by “middleclassification” and “minor classification” is associated. In memorysection A10, “Gno.”, “name of medical examination course,” and “ICconfirmation” are stored in association with one another as shown inFIG. 30.

In step III-28 (SIII-28), in accordance with processing program 13,among the items in “middle classification,” “minor classification,” and“annotative information on the polymorphism pattern” stored in memorysection B11, those items in which morbidity rate exceeds a given levelare read out. For example, “middle classification” and “minorclassification” items for which the value for morbidity rate in the“annotative information on polymorphism pattern” is at least “4” withrespect to the five levels, are read out.

In step III-29 (SIII-29), a medical examination table (FIG. 27) issearched based on the read-out “middle classification” and the “minorclassification,” and those items corresponded to the read-out “middleclassification” and the “minor classification” are selected.

In step III-30 (SIII-30), essential items are extracted from the medicalexamination table. More specifically, examination methods, examinationitems, examinee preparation, inquiry items and the like, for the “middleclassification” and the “minor classification” selected in step III-29,are read out. Further, examination methods, examination items, examineepreparation, inquiry items, and the like, which are items classifiedinto “basic” by the “major classification” in the medical examinationtable, are also read out.

In step III-31 (SIII-31), an output format as shown in, for example,FIG. 31 is prepared based on the examination methods, examination items,examinee preparation, inquiry items and the like, which were extractedin step III-30, and the output format data is transmitted to personalcomputer 3. The output format includes examination items that are commonamong all medical examination courses (classified into “basic” by themajor classification in the medical examination table) and specificexamination items concerning a disease for which the morbidity rateexceeds a given level (classified into “morbidity rate” by the majorclassification in the medical examination table). The examination itemsconcerning diseases for which the morbidity rate exceeds a given levelare “information associated with semantic information” induced fromsemantic information (morbidity rate).

This output format is used in a medical institution conducting themedical examination on the examinee. On the other hand, an output formatfor an examinee receiving a medical examination on which the examinationclassification and the examinee preparation are displayed, may beoutput. In this case, information such as the method and purpose of theexamination from which the examinee can ascertain his or her ownmorbidity rate is not disclosed to the examinee. Thus, the imparting ofanxiety to the examinee can be prevented. Also in this case, a medicalinstitution conducting the medical examination can suitably selectexamining methods for the disease in such a manner that, for example,the examinee would not know what disease is subject of examination.

In step III-31, the output format may be directly transmitted to theexaminee instead of being transmitted to a medical institutionconducting the medical examination. In this case, the output formattransmitted to the examinee does not preferably contain any informationthat would impart anxiety to the examinee, such as a morbidity rate of apredetermined disease. However, information that may impart anxiety tothe examinee can be disclosed in accordance with IC.

In step III-32 (SIII-32), personal computer 3 receives the output formatdata that was output by shared computer 2 and stores it in memorysection 26. Then, in step III-33 (SIII-33), by outputting the outputformat, the requester can obtain information on medical examinationitems including specific examination items that are appropriate for thediathesis of the individual possessing genome-related informationrecording medium 24.

In shared computer 2, in step III-34 (SIII-34) subsequent to stepIII-31, the contents stored in memory section A10 and memory section B11are separately stored in storage DB-A15 and storage DB-B16,respectively, and the contents stored in memory section A10 and memorysection B11 may then be deleted. At this time, the “anonymouspolymorphism address” among the contents stored in memory section B11 ispreferably deleted.

As described above, with this system, by following the flow charts shownin FIGS. 23 and 24, the requester can obtain information on medicalexamination items based on the individual's (the examinee's) diathesisand the like. The column for “category” on the output format shown inFIG. 31 includes “basic,” which implies examination items that arecommon among predetermined medical examination courses, and “specific,”which implies examination items for diseases having a high morbidityrate that were obtained in step III-29. Through utilization of thissystem, medical examination services including “specific” examinationitems that are appropriate for the individual can be provided.

Further, in the system, even when semantic information is associatedwith a combination of polymorphism patterns in a plurality ofpolymorphism addresses, using link DB 30, semantic information which isspecific to the individual possessing genome-related informationrecording medium 24 can be obtained.

In the system, the output format may be prepared by constructing adatabase in which additional information regarding the medicalexaminees, such as the results of past medical examination, has beenaccumulated as a history, reading the history of the results of pastmedical examination of the examinee from the database, and associatingthe history with the “annotative information on the polymorphismpattern” and information associated therewith. This database may beprovided in shared computer 2 or may be provided in personal computer 3or genome-related information recording medium 24. According to thesystem, the output format shows the history of the results of medicalexamination of the examinee, and thus, comparison with the results ofmedical examination thereafter enables the provision of enhanced medicalexamination services. The results of medical examination, for example,include the presence or absence of oxidative damage in genes or geneexpression found by genetic testing in addition to the results ofconventional medical examination. Further, in the system, in step III-9,as request information in addition to the desired “medical examinationcourse,” for example, a request for “functional food that preventsdiseases in respect of which the morbidity rate of the examinee is high”is received, and the requested functional food can be provided togetherwith information on medical examination items based on the examinee'sdiathesis.

In the present embodiment, the system for providing medical examinationservices including examination items that are “specific” for theexaminee in which the requester utilizes a medical center having main DB14 was described although the system is not limited thereto. The systemmay comprise personal computer 3 belonging to the examinee who handlesgenome-related information 28, a medical center having a database inwhich polymorphism addresses are recorded in a manner capable ofcorresponding to the request information, and organizations or groupsother than the medical center having main DB 14. The examinee may be therequester in the system for processing information. In this case, theexaminee accesses the medical center to request the medical examinationservices, and the medical center accesses main DB 14 of the otherorganization, to provide medical examination services containing“specific” examination items appropriate for the examinee (requester).More particularly, the other organization having main DB 14 providessemantic information and information associated with semanticinformation without handling genome-related information 28 and themedical center handles genome-related information 28 without possessingmain DB 14. In this case, main DB 14 of the other organization can beutilized in a plurality of medical centers. Further, the otherorganization performs control, updating, or the like of main DB 14 andthe medical center handles genome-related information 28 of therequester. This enables the requester to receive the medical servicesthrough the medical center. In this case, medical examination items,which contain the “specific” examination items appropriate for theexaminee are transmitted to the examinee through the medical center.However, it may not be limited to this and the medical examination itemsmay be directly transmitted from the other organization to the examinee.Alternatively, the medical examination items may be transmitted to thethird organization actually conducting the medical examination from theother organization.

As described above, according to the system, on genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and in main DB 14, standardization ofonly “polymorphism addresses” and the “polymorphism patterns” thereofeliminates the need for standardization of other specific data. Thus,the system can be utilized in a wide range of industries. That is, whenproviding information using genome-related information recording medium24, the provider of objects or services can provide information invarious manners without the need to standardize semantic information tocorrespond to the polymorphism pattern or a unified standard such as amethod for transmitting/receiving data.

Furthermore, according to the system, a third party or thirdorganization can easily monitor and control shared computer 2 byexamining main DB 14. Accordingly, as the system can, for example,execute administrative control over the provider of semanticinformation, adequate and ethical control over the provider of semanticinformation can be executed.

4. Fourth Embodiment

Next, a system for donor registration for registering an individuals'own polymorphism pattern based on solicitation for a predeterminedpurpose, and a system for processing information that providesinformation on other individual organisms having properties compatiblewith a “given property” of the requester in relation to thepredetermined purpose are described as the fourth embodiment to whichthe present invention has been applied. For the convenience ofexplanation, it is described as a simple model.

Regarding the system for processing information explained as the presentembodiment, the explanation of its constitution, operation, and termsthereof is omitted by employing the same appellations, symbols, anddefinitions for the same constitution and terms as with the system forprocessing information according to the above described the first, thesecond and the third embodiments. More particularly, semanticinformation (an individual property type, a compatible type) or the likeas shown in FIG. 32 is recorded in main DB 14 according to the presentembodiment. In main DB 14, the “polymorphism address” and the“polymorphism pattern” in the polymorphism address are recorded inassociation with each other depending on the “classification” forcategorizing a predetermined property. In main DB 14 is also recorded an“individual property type” implied by a predetermined “polymorphismpattern” (information on a predetermined individual organism) and a“compatible type” indicating a compatible type with the “individualproperty type” (information on an other individual organism) as semanticinformation. The “level of disclosure” defining whether information onthe “individual property type” and the “compatible type” in thepredetermined polymorphism address can be disclosed or not may befurther recorded in main DB 14 in association with this information.

More specifically, polymorphism addresses “1000” and “2000” areassociated with the “given property,” and the individual property typeimplied by a possible combination of polymorphism patterns in thesepolymorphism addresses is recorded as “a” and “b.” The compatible typesof these individual property types “a” and “b” are recorded as “b” and“a,” respectively. That is to say, FIG. 32 demonstrates that, forexample, when polymorphism patterns in polymorphism addresses “1000” and“2000” are respectively “A” and “C,” the individual property typeregarding the “given property” is “a,” and the compatible type that iscompatible to individual property type “a” is “b.”

The present embodiment is explained by using genome-related informationrecording medium 24 having polymorphism addresses and polymorphismpatterns as shown in FIG. 33 recorded thereon as an example. Exemplifiedin FIG. 33 is genome-related information recording medium 24 containingpolymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns thereof correspondingto the polymorphism addresses (“1000” and “2000”) exemplified in main DB14 in FIG. 32.

First, a system for donor registration for registering an individual'sown polymorphism pattern based on solicitation for a predeterminedpurpose is explained. In the system for donor registration, for example,as in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 34, a donor database(hereinafter referred to as a “donor DB”) for a predetermined purposesuch as shown in FIG. 35 can be constructed. In the flow chart shown inFIG. 34, a step described as “(shared)” refers to processing in sharedcomputer 2 and a step described as “(personal)” refers to processing inpersonal computer 3.

In the system, processing program 27, which is recorded in storage 23 ofpersonal computer 3, is first started based on solicitation for donorsin step D-1 (SD-1). In step D-1, processing program 27 drives readingapparatus 25 of personal computer 3 and accesses genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 to read out a “Gno.” recorded thereon asdata I. The read-out “Gno.” is stored in memory section 26.

In step D-2 (SD-2), the read-out “Gno.” is transmitted together with a“given property,” which is registration-request information, throughcommunication network 1 to shared computer 2 belonging to the partysoliciting donors. This enables declaration of intention (i.e., requestfor services) to register as a donor for the “given property,” using thesystem. At this time, strict enforcement of obtainment of informedconsent (hereinafter abbreviated to “IC”) is preferably conductedregarding the purpose of donor registration and its content and themethod and range of utilization thereof.

In step D-3 (SD-3), shared computer 2 receives the “Gno.” and “givenproperty” transmitted from personal computer 3. After reception of the“Gno.” and “given property,” shared computer 2 starts processing program13. The received “Gno.” and “given property” are stored in memorysection A10.

In step D-4 (SD-4), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance with processingprogram 13. In step D-5 (SD-5), main DB 14 is searched based on the“given property” as request information in accordance with processingprogram 13 to extract the classification corresponded to the “givenproperty.”

In step D-6 (SD-6), the “polymorphism address” associated with theextracted “given property” is read from main DB 14 in accordance withprocessing program 13. The read-out “polymorphism address” is stored inmemory section A10.

In step D-7 (SD-7), “Gno.” and “polymorphism address” stored in memorysection A10 are read out in accordance with processing program 13,“Gno.” and “polymorphism address” are transmitted to personal computer3, and instruction information instructing submission of the“polymorphism pattern” corresponding to the transmitted “polymorphismaddress” is transmitted to personal computer 3. In this case, thesubmission of additional information such as anamnesis andcharacteristics may be optionally instructed within a range regulated bythe IC.

In step D-8 (SD-8), the “Gno.” and “polymorphism address” transmittedfrom shared computer 2 are received. The received “Gno.” and“polymorphism address” are recorded in memory section 26. In step D-9(SD-9), data II which is recorded on genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is accessed in accordance with the receivedinstruction information (“Gno.” and “polymorphism address”).

In step D-10 (SD-10), data II on genome-related information recordingmedium 24 is searched to extract the instructed polymorphism address. Instep D-11 (SD-11), data II on genome-related information recordingmedium 24 is searched in accordance with the extracted polymorphismaddress to read out the corresponding polymorphism pattern. The read-outpolymorphism pattern is recorded in association with the polymorphismaddress in memory section 26. At this time, data I is preferablyaccessed to confirm whether the “Gno.” contained in instructioninformation is correct or not. In step D-10, additional informationrecorded in data III, data IV, and data V may be simultaneously read outin addition to the polymorphism pattern to record in memory section 26if necessary.

In step D-12 (SD-12), the temporarily-recorded polymorphism patternassociated with the polymorphism address and the optionally-recordedadditional information in memory section 26 are output to sharedcomputer 2 through communication network 1 together with the “Gno.” Instep D-13 (SD-13), shared computer 2 receives the polymorphism patternassociated with the polymorphism address, the Gno., and theoptionally-recorded additional information. The received polymorphismpattern is recorded in memory section A10 in association with thepolymorphism address.

In step D-14 (SD-14), the polymorphism pattern and the Gno., which arerecorded in memory section A10, and additional information areassociated with the “given property” and then registered in the donor DBas shown in FIG. 35. In this donor DB, the polymorphism addressassociated with a given property and the polymorphism pattern of thepolymorphism address are recorded for each “Gno.”

A donor DB is provided in, for example, database 8 (memory) of sharedcomputer 2 although it is not limited thereto. For example, a donor DBmay be provided in a memory external to shared computer 2.

As described above, donor registration can be very easily carried outaccording to the system without the necessity to conduct anyexamination, investigation, or test when soliciting for thepredetermined purpose. In particular, in the system, when performingdonor registration in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 34,all of genome-related information 28 which has been recorded ongenome-related information recording medium 24 is not necessarily outputthrough communication network 1. Instead, only the part ofgenome-related information 28 for which submission has been instructedmay be output. According to the system, therefore, donor registrationcan be carried out while preventing leakage of highly confidentialpolymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns that are peculiar toindividuals. Also in the system, use of the “anonymous polymorphismaddress” can further prevent leakage of polymorphism addresses andpolymorphism patterns.

Meanwhile, in the system, a donor DB may comprise a polymorphism addressand a polymorphism pattern associated with the “given property” as wellas semantic information implied by the polymorphism pattern recordedtherein. More specifically, the “individual property type” and the“compatible type,” which are recorded in main DB 14, may be recorded inthe donor DB in association with the “Gno.” or “polymorphism pattern.”

Next, a system for processing information that provides information onother individual organisms having properties compatible with the “givenproperty” of the requester (referred to as a “recipient” in the presentembodiment) for a predetermined purpose is described. This system forprocessing information utilizes main DB 14 shown in FIG. 32 and thedonor DB shown in FIG. 35 and can provide information on otherindividual organisms in accordance with, for example, the flow chartsshown in FIGS. 36 and 37. In the flow charts shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, astep described as “(shared)” refers to processing in shared computer 2and a step described as “(personal)” refers to processing in personalcomputer 3.

In the system, a recipient first starts processing program 27 recordedin storage 23 of personal computer 3 in step R-1 (SR-1) in order toobtain information on other individual organisms that is compatible withthe recipient's “given property.” In step R-1, processing program 27drives reading apparatus 25 of personal computer 3 and accessesgenome-related information recording medium 24 to read out a “Gno.”recorded as data I on genome-related information recording medium 24.The read-out “Gno.” is stored in memory section 26.

In step R-2 (SR-2), the read-out “Gno.” and the “given property” that isthe request information are transmitted through communication network 1to shared computer 2 of the provider of information. This enablesdeclaration of intention to request information on other individualorganisms which are compatible with respect to the “given property,”utilizing the system. At this time, strict enforcement of obtainment ofIC is preferably conducted regarding acceptable use regulations forinformation on the polymorphism pattern and the compatible otherindividual organisms.

In step R-3 (SR-3), shared computer 2 receives the “Gno.” and “givenproperty” transmitted from personal computer 3. After reception of the“Gno.” and “given property,” shared computer 2 starts processing program13. The received “Gno.” and “given property” are stored in memorysection A10.

In step R-4 (SR-4), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance with processingprogram 13. In step R-5 (SR-5), main DB 14 is searched in accordancewith processing program 13 and based on the “given property,” and theclassification matching with the “given property” is extracted.

In step R-6 (SR-6), the “polymorphism address” associated with theextracted classification “given property” is read from main DB 14 inaccordance with processing program 13. The read-out “polymorphismaddress” is stored in memory section A10. More specifically, in the caseof main DB 14 shown in FIG. 32, “1000” and “2000” are extracted andstored as polymorphism addresses associated with the “given property.”

In step R-7 (SR-7), “Gno.” and “polymorphism address” stored in memorysection A10 are read out in accordance with processing program 13, the“Gno.” and the “polymorphism address” are transmitted to personalcomputer 3, and instruction information instructing the submission ofthe “polymorphism pattern” corresponding to the transmitted“polymorphism address” is transmitted to personal computer 3. At thistime, the submission of additional information such as anamnesis andcharacteristics may be optionally instructed within a range regulated byIC.

In step R-8 (SR-8), personal computer 3 receives the “Gno.” and the“polymorphism address” transmitted from shared computer 2. The received“Gno.” and “polymorphism address” are recorded in memory section 26. Instep R-9 (SR-9), data II recorded on genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is accessed in accordance with the receivedinstruction information (“Gno.” and “polymorphism address”).

In step R-10 (SR-10), data II on genome-related information recordingmedium 24 is searched and the instructed polymorphism address isextracted. In step R-11 (SR-11), data II on genome-related informationrecording medium 24 is searched based on the extracted polymorphismaddress to read out the corresponding polymorphism pattern. The read-outpolymorphism pattern is recorded in memory section 26 in associationwith the polymorphism address. In this case, data I is preferablyaccessed to confirm whether the “Gno.” contained in the instructioninformation is correct or not. Also, in step R-10, additionalinformation recorded in data III, data IV and data V is simultaneouslyread out in addition to the polymorphism pattern and it may be recordedin memory section 26 if necessary. More specifically, in the case ofgenome-related information recording medium 24 shown in FIG. 33,polymorphism patterns “A (corresponding to polymorphism address 1000)”and “C (corresponding to polymorphism address 2000)” are read out incompliance with the instructed polymorphism address.

In step R-12 (SR-12), the temporarily-recorded polymorphism patternassociated with the polymorphism address and the optionally-recordedadditional information in memory section 26 are output to sharedcomputer 2 through communication network 1 together with the “Gno.” Instep R-13 (SR-13), shared computer 2 receives the polymorphism patternassociated with the polymorphism address, the Gno., and theoptionally-recorded additional information. The received polymorphismpattern is recorded in memory section A10 in association with thepolymorphism address. More specifically, polymorphism pattern “A”corresponding to polymorphism address “1000” and polymorphism pattern“C” corresponding to polymorphism address “2000” are recorded in memorysection A10.

In step R-14 (SR-14), main DB 14 is accessed in accordance withprocessing program 13. In step R-15 (SR-15), main DB 14 is searchedbased on the received polymorphism address and the polymorphism patternthereof to extract the “individual property type” associated with thematched polymorphism pattern (information on the predeterminedindividual organisms). Specifically, in the case of FIG. 32, theindividual property type “a” is extracted for the combination in whichthe polymorphism patterns of polymorphism addresses “1000” and “2000”are “A” and “C” respectively.

In step R-16 (SR-16), main DB 14 is searched based on the “individualproperty type” extracted in step R-15, and the “compatible type” beingcompatible to the “individual property type” (information on otherindividual organisms) is extracted. More specifically, in the case ofFIG. 32, since the individual property type is “a,” “b” is extracted asthe compatible type for the individual property type “a.”

In step R-17 (SR-17), main DB 14 is searched based on the extractedcompatible type, and an individual property type which is the same asthe compatible type is searched. The polymorphism pattern, associatedwith the searched individual property type, and the polymorphism addressthereof are read out. Specifically, in the case of FIG. 32, since theextracted compatible type is “b,” the polymorphism pattern having “b” asthe individual property type and the polymorphism address thereof areread out. That is, in the case of FIG. 32, a combination in which thepolymorphism pattern of polymorphism address “1000” is “G” and thepolymorphism pattern of polymorphism address “2000” is “C” and acombination in which the polymorphism pattern of polymorphism address“1000” is “A” and the polymorphism pattern of polymorphism address“2000” is “T” are read out.

In step R-18 (SR-18), a donor DB is accessed in accordance withprocessing program 13. The donor DB (for example, as shown in FIG. 35)is constructed as described above and polymorphism addresses and thepolymorphism pattern thereof associated with a “given property” for aplurality of individual organisms are recorded.

In step R-19 (SR-19), the donor DB is searched in accordance withprocessing program 13 based on the polymorphism address and thepolymorphism pattern thereof that were read out in step R-17, and a“Gno.” (information for discriminating an individual organism) having acombination of the polymorphism address and the polymorphism patternmatching with the combination of the polymorphism address and thepolymorphism pattern thereof, which were read out in step R-17, isextracted. More specifically, in the case of FIG. 35, when searching fora “Gno.” having combination in which “1000” is “G” and “2000” is “C” anda “Gno.” having combination in which “1000” is “A” and “2000” is “T,”“Gno.” 0003 and “Gno.” 0004 can be extracted. The extracted “Gno.” isinformation associated with semantic information, that was induced fromsemantic information.

In step R-20 (SR-20), the extracted “Gno.” is transmitted to personalcomputer 3. At this time, the “Gno.” and other information may betransmitted to personal computer 3 within the range regulated by the ICmade by the donor registrant. Examples of other information includeinformation that was recorded when constructing the donor DB shown inFIG. 35, for example, additional information recorded in data III, dataIV, and data V on genome-related information recording medium 24. Morespecifically, in the case of FIG. 35, “Gno.” 0003 and “Gno.” 0004 aretransmitted to personal computer 3.

In step R-21 (SR-21), personal computer 3 receives the “Gno.” and otherinformation transmitted from shared computer 2. In step R-22 (SR-22),the received “Gno.” and other information are output, thereby obtaininginformation on other individual organisms having properties compatiblewith the “given property.” That is, the recipient can obtain informationon other individual organisms which is compatible with respect to therecipient's “given property.” In the case of FIG. 35, the recipient canobtain information associated with semantic information, i.e., thatother individual organisms which are compatible with respect to the“given property” are “Gno.” 0003 and “Gno.” 0004. In step R-20, theresults of extraction may be simultaneously transmitted to an otherorganization providing objects or services to the requester using theresult of extraction.

As described above, information on an other individual organism whichhas a property compatible with the recipient's “given property” for apredetermined purpose can be obtained in accordance with the flow chartsshown in FIGS. 36 and 37 according to the system. More particularly, inthis case, all of genome-related information 28 recorded ongenome-related information recording medium 24 is not necessarily outputthrough communication network 1, and instead, only the part ofgenome-related information 28 for which submission has been instructedmay be output. According to the system, therefore, leakage of highlyconfidential polymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns peculiarto the individuals can be prevented. Also in the system, use of the“anonymous polymorphism address” can further prevent leakage of thepolymorphism addresses and polymorphism patterns.

In the system, since a classification such as “given property” and“compatible type,” which is compatible with the individual propertytype, are corrected and increases in the number of its type, a moreaccurate and wider range of information is included through updating ofmain DB 14. In addition, if many individual organisms are registered asdonors in accordance with the flow charts shown in FIG. 34, a largeamount of donor information is accumulated in the donor DB. According tothe system, updating of main DB 14 in compliance with such increase,correction and the like of information and increase in the amount ofinformation in the donor DB enable the recipient to utilize the newestinformation.

Furthermore, according to the system, a third party or thirdorganization can easily monitor and control shared computer 2 byexamining main DB 14 and donor DB. Accordingly, as the system can, forexample, execute administrative control over the provider of informationon other individual organisms, adequate and ethical control over theprovider of information on other individual organisms can be executed.

When the donor DB has semantic information implied by the polymorphismpattern recorded therein, shared computer 2 searches main DB 14 basedon, for example, the polymorphism pattern and the Gno. received in stepR-13 (SR-13) to extract the “individual property type” and the“compatible type” of the recipient (step R-15). Shared computer 2searches the “individual property type” of other individual organismsrecorded in the donor DB based on the “individual property type” and“compatible type” of the recipient without conducting steps R-16 toR-19, and extracts other individual organisms having the “individualproperty type” that matches with the recipient's “compatible type.”Subsequently, conducting steps R-20 to R-22, the recipient can obtaininformation on other individual organisms that are compatible with therecipient regarding the “given property.” In this case, in step R-20,the results of extraction may be simultaneously transmitted to anotherorganization for providing objects or services to the requester usingthe results of extraction.

Further in the system, a donor registrant utilizing the system for donorregistration can obtain information on other individual organisms as arecipient. In this case, donor registration is carried out through stepsD-1 to D-14 shown in FIG. 34 and then advanced to step R-14, andinformation on other individual organisms can be obtained for the “givenproperty” in the same manner as described. In this case, the userperforms donor registration for a “given property” and at the same timecan obtain information on other individual organisms for the “givenproperty.” When an individual organism which has conducted donorregistration afterwards becomes a recipient, shared computer 2 accessesthe donor DB after steps R-1 and R-2 and the “polymorphism address”matching with the “Gno.” of the recipient and the “polymorphism pattern”thereof are read out, and the process then advances to step R-14.Information on other individual organisms for the “given property” canbe obtained in the same manner as described. Also in this case, the userperforms donor registration for a “given property” and at the same timecan obtain information on other individual organisms for the “givenproperty.”

As described above, according to the system, on genome-relatedinformation recording medium 24 and in main DB 14, standardization ofonly “polymorphism addresses” and the “polymorphism patterns” thereofeliminates the need for standardization of other specific data. Thus,the system can be utilized in a wide range of industries. That is, whenproviding information using genome-related information recording medium24, the provider of objects or services can provide information invarious manners without the need to standardize semantic information tocorrespond to the polymorphism pattern or a unified standard such as amethod for transmitting/receiving data.

In the above fourth embodiment, the system for processing informationfor obtaining information on other individual organisms having a“compatible type” compatible with an “individual property type,” as the“individual property type,” was explained. The system for processinginformation, however, is not limited to such embodiment. For example,the system may be directed to obtaining information on other individualorganisms having a “compatible type” that is incompatible with an“individual property type” as the “individual property type.” In thiscase, an “individual property type” implied by a predetermined“polymorphism pattern” (information on a predetermined individualorganism) and an “incompatible type” (information on an other individualorganism) indicating a type incompatible with the “individual propertytype” are recorded as semantic information in main DB 14.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

As is apparent from the foregoing detailed description, a system forprocessing information can be constructed according to the presentinvention in which differences in information on nucleotide sequencesamong individual organisms are effectively utilized in order to providesemantic information and/or information associated with the semanticinformation that is useful for each individual. More particularly, thepresent invention enables use of the newest semantic information throughupdating, correction or the like of semantic information. Therefore, thepresent invention can provide high-quality objects and/or servicesrelating to request information.

1. An apparatus for processing information on a nucleotide sequence, inwhich the apparatus is configured to access a database storingpositional information representing a position in the nucleotidesequence, polymorphism information, and semantic information,comprising: a transmitter/receiver that is configured to receive requestinformation from a request computer, via a communication network,corresponding to an object or service, and wherein the requestinformation does not include genome-related information; and a CPU thatis configured to: search the database for positional informationcorresponding to the received request information, and retrieve thepositional information; cause the transmitter/receiver to transmit, viathe communication network, the retrieved positional information, whichcorresponds to the received request information, to a computer which isconfigured to access a recording medium storing polymorphism informationregarding an individual; obtain polymorphism information based on thetransmitted positional information, received by the transmitter/receivervia communication network; search the database for semantic informationor search for information corresponding to the semantic information thatis stored in the database or another database based on the receivedpolymorphism information, and retrieve the semantic information orinformation corresponding to the semantic information; and output thesemantic information or information corresponding to the retrievedsemantic information to the request computer or a device that utilizesthe semantic information or information corresponding to the semanticinformation to comply with a request substantially included in therequest information.
 2. The apparatus for processing information on anucleotide sequence according to claim 1, wherein the CPU is configuredto set secondary positional information corresponding to the retrievedpositional information, the transmitter/receiver is configured totransmit the retrieved positional information along with the secondarypositional information, and the CPU, followed by the receivedpolymorphism information along with the secondary positionalinformation, is configured to retrieve semantic information orinformation corresponding to the semantic information based on thereceived polymorphism information and the received secondary positionalinformation.
 3. The apparatus for processing information on a nucleotidesequence according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the databasesfurther stores a level of disclosure corresponding to the semanticinformation, said level of disclosure determining whether output of thesemantic information or the information corresponding to the semanticinformation is approved or not.
 4. The apparatus for processinginformation on a nucleotide sequence according to claim 1, wherein theCPU is configured to retrieve a plurality of pieces of positionalinformation corresponding to the request information, wherein thetransmitter/receiver is configured to receive polymorphism informationcorresponding to each of the plurality of pieces of the retrievedpositional information; and wherein the CPU is configured to retrievesemantic information or information corresponding to the semanticinformation based on the received plurality of pieces of polymorphisminformation.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the CPU isconfigured to cause the transmitter/receiver to transmit the retrievedpositional information, which corresponds to the received requestinformation, to the request computer.